GLENN HEIGHTS, Texas (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice surrendered to police Thursday on charges including aggravated assault after he and another driver of a speeding sports car allegedly caused a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-sports-car-crash-24b9e3281d0bca8c0c13a0cedda57b93">crash involving a half-dozen vehicles</a>&nbsp;on a Dallas highway last month.

A spokeswoman for Rice’s attorney confirmed to The Associated Press that Rice turned himself in at the Glenn Heights Police Department. Rice is being represented by Texas state Sen. Royce West.

Rice was booked into the Regional Jail in DeSoto, and West said he was released on bond Thursday night.

In an emailed statement, West emphasized what he called Rice's “continued cooperation with law enforcement.”

“Mr. Rice acknowledges his actions and feels deeply for those injured as a result of this accident,” the lawyer said.

Rice said last week on Instagram that he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-kansas-city-rashee-rice-car-crash-dallas-bbc86e5cccc79d7bbce5103070995994">taking “full responsibility”</a>&nbsp;for his part in the wreck.

On Wednesday, Dallas police said arrest warrants had been issued for Rice, 23, for one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury.

West said previously that Rice was driving a Lamborghini sport utility vehicle when the crash happened March 30.

Theodore Knox, 21, was driving the other speeding sports car, a Corvette, police said, and arrest warrants were issued for Knox on the same range of counts as for Rice. Dallas police said Thursday night that Knox was not currently in custody.

Southern Methodist University said earlier in the day that, after learning of the arrest warrant,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dallas-car-crash-smu-8a4258a3af7c064df1925bc65aa15ceb">Knox had been suspended</a>&nbsp;from its football team. Knox’s attorney, Deandra Grant, said her client was cooperating with law enforcement.

Police have alleged that Rice and Knox were speeding in the far left lane when they lost control, and the Lamborghini traveled onto the shoulder and hit the center median wall, causing a chain collision.

Rice and Knox allegedly left following the crash without determining whether anyone needed medical attention or providing their information, according to police. Four people involved in the crash had minor injuries, police said.

Rice grew up in the Fort Worth suburb of North Richland Hills and played college football at nearby Southern Methodist, where a breakout senior season in 2022 put him on the radar of NFL teams.

The Chiefs selected him in the second round of last year’s draft, and he became one of the few dependable options in their passing game.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712017870514.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>GLENN HEIGHTS, Texas (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice surrendered to police Thursday on charges including aggravated assault after he and another driver of a speeding sports car allegedly caused a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-sports-car-crash-24b9e3281d0bca8c0c13a0cedda57b93">crash involving a half-dozen vehicles</a>&nbsp;on a Dallas highway last month.A spokeswoman for Rice’s attorney confirmed to The Associated Press that Rice turned himself in at the Glenn Heights Police Department. Rice is being represented by Texas state Sen. Royce West.Rice was booked into the Regional Jail in DeSoto, and West said he was released on bond Thursday night.In an emailed statement, West emphasized what he called Rice's “continued cooperation with law enforcement.”“Mr. Rice acknowledges his actions and feels deeply for those injured as a result of this accident,” the lawyer said.Rice said last week on Instagram that he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-kansas-city-rashee-rice-car-crash-dallas-bbc86e5cccc79d7bbce5103070995994">taking “full responsibility”</a>&nbsp;for his part in the wreck.On Wednesday, Dallas police said arrest warrants had been issued for Rice, 23, for one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury.West said previously that Rice was driving a Lamborghini sport utility vehicle when the crash happened March 30.Theodore Knox, 21, was driving the other speeding sports car, a Corvette, police said, and arrest warrants were issued for Knox on the same range of counts as for Rice. Dallas police said Thursday night that Knox was not currently in custody.Southern Methodist University said earlier in the day that, after learning of the arrest warrant,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dallas-car-crash-smu-8a4258a3af7c064df1925bc65aa15ceb">Knox had been suspended</a>&nbsp;from its football team. Knox’s attorney, Deandra Grant, said her client was cooperating with law enforcement.Police have alleged that Rice and Knox were speeding in the far left lane when they lost control, and the Lamborghini traveled onto the shoulder and hit the center median wall, causing a chain collision.Rice and Knox allegedly left following the crash without determining whether anyone needed medical attention or providing their information, according to police. Four people involved in the crash had minor injuries, police said.Rice grew up in the Fort Worth suburb of North Richland Hills and played college football at nearby Southern Methodist, where a breakout senior season in 2022 put him on the radar of NFL teams.The Chiefs selected him in the second round of last year’s draft, and he became one of the few dependable options in their passing game.

Rice turns himself in on accident charges

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. had four hits, including two home runs, and five RBIs and the Kansas City Royals used a nine-run first inning to defeat the Houston Astros 13-3 Thursday to complete a three-game sweep and extend their winning streak to seven games.

Vinnie Pasquantino, who came into Wednesday's game hitting .108 with no RBIs, was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and now is hitting .222 with eight RBIs.

“To go from zero to eight in two days is pretty good,” Pasquantino said. “Hopefully we keep it up. If I could stay at this pace, we’d be in a really good spot.

"It feels good to be a part of the winning.”

The Royals completed a perfect seven-game homestand against the White Sox and Astros. It's just the third time in franchise history they've played at least seven games on a homestand without a loss. The other two: seven games in 1988 and eight games in 1985, the year they won their first World Series.

“It’s a great feeling,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I’m really happy for those guys. They’ve put in a ton of work. And to get off to that kind of start and sustain it for a full week is really challenging and really rewarding.”

Brady Singer (2-0) allowed one run and five hits in five innings.

Hunter Brown (0-2) got only two outs, but allowed nine runs and 11 hits.

“For the most part, I was generally over the middle of the dish,” Brown said. “I’m definitely not happy about it. I gotta look into it deeper. I've got to sit down with the staff and see what I can do.”

The Royals sent 15 men to the plate in the first inning, tying a club record with 11 hits in the inning (also set in 1986 and 2006). It was the second straight game they've batted around in an inning, sending 11 men to the plate in a seven-run inning Wednesday night.

“As a team we're just coming into the clubhouse each and every day having that feeling of, ‘We’re gonna win,’" Witt said.

The feeling was more demure in the other clubhouse.

“We’ve been tested early, and this team has been tested before,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “This is going to make us better. It’s hard to swallow those losses, but (I have) faith in that group in there. We’ll figure it out. When things are just not going your way, that’s the stuff that happens.”

Maikel Garcia (two singles), Witt (a single and a homer) and Pasquantino (two singles) each had two hits and two RBIs in the first inning. Everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit in the inning except Kyle Isbel.

The Astros had baserunners in nearly every inning, but got only a solo home run in the fourth from Yainer Diaz and a pair of runs in the sixth, snapping a 19 1/3-inning scoreless streak by the Royals bullpen.

Astros: RHP Justin Verlander is scheduled for another rehab start this weekend prior to his potential return to the rotation. He's been on the injured list with a right shoulder issue. ... Manager Joe Espada said LHP Framber Valdez averted the worst-case scenario with elbow soreness that put him on the IL on Monday. “The soreness is pretty much all gone,” Espada said. “Now it’s time to let him play catch in the next few days and get him built up.”

Astros: return to Houston for a six-game homestand against Texas and Atlanta. RHP J.P. Franco (0-1, 4.78 ERA) will take the mound Friday against RHP Dane Dunning (1-1, 4.15 ERA) for Texas.

Royals: go on a six-game road trip to New York and Chicago. RHP Michael Wacha (1-0, 2.25 ERA) will start Friday against the Mets' RHP Luis Severino (0-1, 3.60 ERA).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708710110872.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DAVID SMALE Associated PressKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. had four hits, including two home runs, and five RBIs and the Kansas City Royals used a nine-run first inning to defeat the Houston Astros 13-3 Thursday to complete a three-game sweep and extend their winning streak to seven games.Vinnie Pasquantino, who came into Wednesday's game hitting .108 with no RBIs, was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and now is hitting .222 with eight RBIs.“To go from zero to eight in two days is pretty good,” Pasquantino said. “Hopefully we keep it up. If I could stay at this pace, we’d be in a really good spot."It feels good to be a part of the winning.”The Royals completed a perfect seven-game homestand against the White Sox and Astros. It's just the third time in franchise history they've played at least seven games on a homestand without a loss. The other two: seven games in 1988 and eight games in 1985, the year they won their first World Series.“It’s a great feeling,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I’m really happy for those guys. They’ve put in a ton of work. And to get off to that kind of start and sustain it for a full week is really challenging and really rewarding.”Brady Singer (2-0) allowed one run and five hits in five innings.Hunter Brown (0-2) got only two outs, but allowed nine runs and 11 hits.“For the most part, I was generally over the middle of the dish,” Brown said. “I’m definitely not happy about it. I gotta look into it deeper. I've got to sit down with the staff and see what I can do.”The Royals sent 15 men to the plate in the first inning, tying a club record with 11 hits in the inning (also set in 1986 and 2006). It was the second straight game they've batted around in an inning, sending 11 men to the plate in a seven-run inning Wednesday night.“As a team we're just coming into the clubhouse each and every day having that feeling of, ‘We’re gonna win,’" Witt said.The feeling was more demure in the other clubhouse.“We’ve been tested early, and this team has been tested before,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “This is going to make us better. It’s hard to swallow those losses, but (I have) faith in that group in there. We’ll figure it out. When things are just not going your way, that’s the stuff that happens.”Maikel Garcia (two singles), Witt (a single and a homer) and Pasquantino (two singles) each had two hits and two RBIs in the first inning. Everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit in the inning except Kyle Isbel.The Astros had baserunners in nearly every inning, but got only a solo home run in the fourth from Yainer Diaz and a pair of runs in the sixth, snapping a 19 1/3-inning scoreless streak by the Royals bullpen.TRAINING ROOMAstros: RHP Justin Verlander is scheduled for another rehab start this weekend prior to his potential return to the rotation. He's been on the injured list with a right shoulder issue. ... Manager Joe Espada said LHP Framber Valdez averted the worst-case scenario with elbow soreness that put him on the IL on Monday. “The soreness is pretty much all gone,” Espada said. “Now it’s time to let him play catch in the next few days and get him built up.”UP NEXTAstros: return to Houston for a six-game homestand against Texas and Atlanta. RHP J.P. Franco (0-1, 4.78 ERA) will take the mound Friday against RHP Dane Dunning (1-1, 4.15 ERA) for Texas.Royals: go on a six-game road trip to New York and Chicago. RHP Michael Wacha (1-0, 2.25 ERA) will start Friday against the Mets' RHP Luis Severino (0-1, 3.60 ERA).

⚾️ Royals win seven straight

BUHLER, Kan. — USD 313 announced via social media Thursday that Eric Tate has been named head boys basketball coach.

Tate will also be teaching social studies at Buhler High School.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696683579907.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>BUHLER, Kan. — USD 313 announced via social media Thursday that Eric Tate has been named head boys basketball coach.Tate will also be teaching social studies at Buhler High School.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712898644286.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

🏀 BBB: Eric Tate named head coach at Buhler

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;The University of Kansas announced Thursday it has embarked on a groundbreaking partnership with Oak View Group (OVG), a leader in global sports and entertainment, as the stadium operator for the Gateway District and reimagined David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Oak View Group will also manage food and beverage services and suite catering for all Kansas Athletics venues.

In its new partnership with KU, Oak View Group will oversee the day-to-day operations of both the football stadium and conference center when Phase I of the Gateway District opens in August 2025. The group will lead the bookings of conference events, special events and concerts, while operating a membership-only dining club in one of the club levels of the stadium. OVG will also play an integral role in the current Allen Fieldhouse upgrades, managing all food and beverage and hospitality in the world-famous arena. Allen Fieldhouse began the first phase of upgrades prior to the 2023-24 season, and is currently undergoing a second phase that will be unveiled prior to the 2024-25 season.

In its role as the new food and beverage provider for Kansas Athletics, OVG Hospitality will bring a reimagined customer service focused approach to all venues.

“We are thrilled to partner with such a proven and innovative team in OVG,” Kansas Director of Athletics Travis Goff said. “A generational project like this requires best-in-class partnerships, and that is what this relationship reflects. The Gateway District and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, along with a transformed Allen Fieldhouse, will have an everlasting impact on KU and the Lawrence community, and OVG will be at the center of a world-class fan experience. We are incredibly excited about what this partnership means for our season ticket holders, donors, students, and campus community.”

OVG has several other successful partnerships in the Big 12 and college athletics, and will look to transform the Gateway District and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium into a destination for events through their emphasis on stadium and conference center bookings. The group will work closely with Jayhawk Hospitality, the KU office that currently manages full-service events and conference rentals on campus, to book events that draw tourism to Lawrence that benefit campus and community partners.

“The Gateway District represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our campus in a way that benefits students, faculty, staff and the broader region,” said Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. “In particular, this project will create a new gathering place for our campus community, enable us to host conferences and events, and provide Kansas Football the facilities it needs to compete at the highest level. We are excited to be partnering with OVG to move this project forward.”

Beyond the Gateway District, OVG will have a major impact on all KU gameday experiences with its industry-leading food and beverage services being incorporated into all athletic venues, providing fans and guests with high-quality options, while making it a priority to work with partners on a variety of items that will reflect the local culture.

“We are excited to partner with one of the most respected college athletic programs in the nation,” said Chris Granger, President, OVG360. “We look forward to collaborating with the University of Kansas in setting a new standard that redefines the game-day experience for Jayhawk fans. Our joint dedication to culinary excellence and community impact will be showcased through elevated food &amp; beverage offerings, an array of special events, world-class premium hospitality, and thoughtful local partnerships. We are honored and humbled to be a part of the Jayhawk family, and ready to get to work.”

Leveraging its experience as the premier venue management company and largest developer of live event venues in the world, OVG will assist KU in the development of the transformative Gateway District – the future home of Kansas Football and convention center events and conferences in the future. The partnership between the University of Kansas and Oak View Group represents a commitment to excellence and innovation in sports and entertainment, benefiting fans, the community, and campus partners.

Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712861672460.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Kansas AthleticsLAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;The University of Kansas announced Thursday it has embarked on a groundbreaking partnership with Oak View Group (OVG), a leader in global sports and entertainment, as the stadium operator for the Gateway District and reimagined David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Oak View Group will also manage food and beverage services and suite catering for all Kansas Athletics venues.In its new partnership with KU, Oak View Group will oversee the day-to-day operations of both the football stadium and conference center when Phase I of the Gateway District opens in August 2025. The group will lead the bookings of conference events, special events and concerts, while operating a membership-only dining club in one of the club levels of the stadium. OVG will also play an integral role in the current Allen Fieldhouse upgrades, managing all food and beverage and hospitality in the world-famous arena. Allen Fieldhouse began the first phase of upgrades prior to the 2023-24 season, and is currently undergoing a second phase that will be unveiled prior to the 2024-25 season.In its role as the new food and beverage provider for Kansas Athletics, OVG Hospitality will bring a reimagined customer service focused approach to all venues.“We are thrilled to partner with such a proven and innovative team in OVG,” Kansas Director of Athletics Travis Goff said. “A generational project like this requires best-in-class partnerships, and that is what this relationship reflects. The Gateway District and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, along with a transformed Allen Fieldhouse, will have an everlasting impact on KU and the Lawrence community, and OVG will be at the center of a world-class fan experience. We are incredibly excited about what this partnership means for our season ticket holders, donors, students, and campus community.”OVG has several other successful partnerships in the Big 12 and college athletics, and will look to transform the Gateway District and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium into a destination for events through their emphasis on stadium and conference center bookings. The group will work closely with Jayhawk Hospitality, the KU office that currently manages full-service events and conference rentals on campus, to book events that draw tourism to Lawrence that benefit campus and community partners.“The Gateway District represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our campus in a way that benefits students, faculty, staff and the broader region,” said Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. “In particular, this project will create a new gathering place for our campus community, enable us to host conferences and events, and provide Kansas Football the facilities it needs to compete at the highest level. We are excited to be partnering with OVG to move this project forward.”Beyond the Gateway District, OVG will have a major impact on all KU gameday experiences with its industry-leading food and beverage services being incorporated into all athletic venues, providing fans and guests with high-quality options, while making it a priority to work with partners on a variety of items that will reflect the local culture.“We are excited to partner with one of the most respected college athletic programs in the nation,” said Chris Granger, President, OVG360. “We look forward to collaborating with the University of Kansas in setting a new standard that redefines the game-day experience for Jayhawk fans. Our joint dedication to culinary excellence and community impact will be showcased through elevated food &amp; beverage offerings, an array of special events, world-class premium hospitality, and thoughtful local partnerships. We are honored and humbled to be a part of the Jayhawk family, and ready to get to work.”Leveraging its experience as the premier venue management company and largest developer of live event venues in the world, OVG will assist KU in the development of the transformative Gateway District – the future home of Kansas Football and convention center events and conferences in the future. The partnership between the University of Kansas and Oak View Group represents a commitment to excellence and innovation in sports and entertainment, benefiting fans, the community, and campus partners.About Oak View Group (OVG)Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.About Kansas Athletics

🏈 KU, Oak View Group enter into partnership to elevate stadium and venue experience

LAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas freshman guard Johnny Furphy has been named to the Australian Boomers team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Basketball Australia announced April 11.

In early July, the 22-member Boomers team will be cut down to 12 to represent Australia at the Olympics, July 26 – August 11 in Paris. Ten members from Australia’s 2020 bronze medal team at the Tokyo Olympics are also vying to make the 2024 squad.

A 2024 Big 12 All-Freshman and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection, Furphy averaged 9.0 points and 4.9 rebounds for Kansas this past season. The 6-foot-9, 202-pound, Melbourne, Australia, native started 19 games, including 18 of the last 19 contests, for KU and averaged 11.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in Big 12 play. Furphy led Kansas with 44 three-point field goals made last season.

Prior to Kansas, Furphy played prep basketball for Centre of Excellence (CoE) – Australia’s development program hosted at the Australian Institute of Sport alongside NBA Global Academy. He reclassified for the 2023 class and garnered attention when he participated in various NBA Academy events in the United States. Additionally, Furphy played for Victoria at the 2023 Australia-U20 Championship.

Furphy is vying to become the first Kansas player since Sasha Kaun to participate in the Olympic Games. Kaun won a bronze medal while representing Russia in the 2012 Olympics in London.

For more information on the Boomers team, one can go&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/icvx09ty0fpmd2qmq4wu7/EMBARGOED-Boomers-Olympic-Squad-Announce-Media-Release.pdf?rlkey=lkek44ndajoaiwgp0elz4mvej&amp;dl=0">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712854067824.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy Kansas AthleticsLAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas freshman guard Johnny Furphy has been named to the Australian Boomers team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Basketball Australia announced April 11.In early July, the 22-member Boomers team will be cut down to 12 to represent Australia at the Olympics, July 26 – August 11 in Paris. Ten members from Australia’s 2020 bronze medal team at the Tokyo Olympics are also vying to make the 2024 squad.A 2024 Big 12 All-Freshman and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection, Furphy averaged 9.0 points and 4.9 rebounds for Kansas this past season. The 6-foot-9, 202-pound, Melbourne, Australia, native started 19 games, including 18 of the last 19 contests, for KU and averaged 11.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in Big 12 play. Furphy led Kansas with 44 three-point field goals made last season.Prior to Kansas, Furphy played prep basketball for Centre of Excellence (CoE) – Australia’s development program hosted at the Australian Institute of Sport alongside NBA Global Academy. He reclassified for the 2023 class and garnered attention when he participated in various NBA Academy events in the United States. Additionally, Furphy played for Victoria at the 2023 Australia-U20 Championship.Furphy is vying to become the first Kansas player since Sasha Kaun to participate in the Olympic Games. Kaun won a bronze medal while representing Russia in the 2012 Olympics in London.For more information on the Boomers team, one can go&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/icvx09ty0fpmd2qmq4wu7/EMBARGOED-Boomers-Olympic-Squad-Announce-Media-Release.pdf?rlkey=lkek44ndajoaiwgp0elz4mvej&amp;dl=0">here</a>.

🏀 MBB: Furphy named to Boomers Squad to vie for the Australian Olympic Team

Charlotte, NC -&nbsp;Hutchinson's Kiki Smith has been named the 2024 NJCAA DI Women's Basketball Player of the Year.

The freshman guard out of Topeka, Kansas posted 652 points, 117 rebounds, 84 steals, 82 assists, and 20 blocks in 37 games played and started. Smith's 652 points aided in the Blue Dragons being third in the nation in scoring with a total of 2874 points. In the national tournament alone, she totaled 68 points, 14 rebounds, 9 steals, 6 assists, and 3 blocks. In the national title game, Smith was the third leading scorer on offense with 23 points and 4 steals on defense.

John Ontjes, Head Coach- "Kiki had one of the most epic seasons in blue dragon history.&nbsp; She is a player that always made plays within the system but in every big moment elevated her game and produced winning plays. Kiki is one of the most unselfish and competitive players that I have ever coached.&nbsp; She is a player who is very driven and works extremely hard.&nbsp; Kiki will be remembered as one of the best players in Blue Dragon history!"&nbsp;&nbsp;

On top of being Hutchinson's leading scorer this season, Smith set the Hutchinson Community College freshman scoring record. Her 652 points also landed her second in points scored in a single season for the Blue Dragons while her 96 three-pointers landed her fifth in a single season.

Smith was originally committed to the University of Evansville before flipping her commitment to Hutchinson. On top of ending her first season with the Blue Dragons as an NJCAA National Champion, Smith was named as the National Tournament MVP and was named to the 2024 NJCAA DI Women's Basketball First-Team All-America team.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712852394874.png" alt="Photo Courtesy NJCAA" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy NJCAA</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of the NJCAACharlotte, NC -&nbsp;Hutchinson's Kiki Smith has been named the 2024 NJCAA DI Women's Basketball Player of the Year.The freshman guard out of Topeka, Kansas posted 652 points, 117 rebounds, 84 steals, 82 assists, and 20 blocks in 37 games played and started. Smith's 652 points aided in the Blue Dragons being third in the nation in scoring with a total of 2874 points. In the national tournament alone, she totaled 68 points, 14 rebounds, 9 steals, 6 assists, and 3 blocks. In the national title game, Smith was the third leading scorer on offense with 23 points and 4 steals on defense.John Ontjes, Head Coach- "Kiki had one of the most epic seasons in blue dragon history.&nbsp; She is a player that always made plays within the system but in every big moment elevated her game and produced winning plays. Kiki is one of the most unselfish and competitive players that I have ever coached.&nbsp; She is a player who is very driven and works extremely hard.&nbsp; Kiki will be remembered as one of the best players in Blue Dragon history!"&nbsp;&nbsp;On top of being Hutchinson's leading scorer this season, Smith set the Hutchinson Community College freshman scoring record. Her 652 points also landed her second in points scored in a single season for the Blue Dragons while her 96 three-pointers landed her fifth in a single season.Smith was originally committed to the University of Evansville before flipping her commitment to Hutchinson. On top of ending her first season with the Blue Dragons as an NJCAA National Champion, Smith was named as the National Tournament MVP and was named to the 2024 NJCAA DI Women's Basketball First-Team All-America team.Player Profile<ul>
 <li>Position: Guard</li><li>Height: 5'7"</li><li>Class: Freshman</li><li>Hometown: Topeka, KS</li>
 </ul>2023-24 Statistics<ul>
 <li>37 games played</li><li>37 games started</li><li>652 points</li><li>117 rebounds</li><li>84 steals</li><li>82 assists</li><li>20 blocks</li>
 </ul>2023-24 Accomplishments:<ul>
 <li>NJCAA DI National Champion</li><li>NJCAA DI First-Team All-American</li><li>NJCAA DI Women's Championship MVP</li><li>KJCCC Player of the Year</li><li>KJCCC Freshman of the Year</li><li>Region 6 DI Tournament MVP</li>
 </ul>

🏀 WBB: HutchCC's Kiki Smith named NJCAA National Player of the Year

Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics MANHATTAN, Kan. —Wichita State grabbed an early 3-0 lead and led 3-2 entering the bottom of the eighth, but Kansas State scored four times in the inning to rally for a 6-3 win on Wednesday night at Tointon Family Stadium.

The Shockers (19-15) struck for a run in the second and two in the third against Kansas State starter Mason Buss, getting a sacrifice fly from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/camden-johnson/7605">Camden Johnson</a>, an RBI fielder's choice from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/kam-durnin/7604">Kam Durnin</a>&nbsp;and a run-scoring double from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/dayvin-johnson/7596">Dayvin Johnson</a>&nbsp;that made it 3-0. But Wichita State did not score over the next six innings against the Kansas State bullpen.

<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/caleb-anderson/8973">Caleb Anderson</a>&nbsp;held the Wildcats to two runs over 3.2 innings in his first start of the season, and reliever&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jack-mount/7599">Jack Mount</a>&nbsp;turned in 2.1 scoreless innings to get the Shockers to the seventh with a 3-2 lead.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/hunter-holmes/8976">Hunter Holmes</a>&nbsp;was able to pitch out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh, but the Wildcats (21-10) surged in front in the eighth on four singles, an error, and a sacrifice fly that turned the 3-2 deficit into a 6-3 lead. Jackson Wentworth closed out the win with a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save.

<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/brady-hamilton/7614">Brady Hamilton</a>&nbsp;(1-3) took the loss for Wichita State, allowing two runs without recording an out in the eighth. Jacob Frost (3-1) picked up the win for Kansas State with a scoreless eighth.

Four Shockers finished with two hits on the evening:&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/lane-haworth/7609">Lane Haworth</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/dayvin-johnson/7596">Dayvin Johnson</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jordan-rogers/7538">Jordan Rogers</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/camden-johnson/7605">Camden Johnson</a>.Wichita State returns to conference play on Friday night against Florida Atlantic. First pitch from Eck Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 pm.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712844918006.png" alt="Photo courtesy of Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics MANHATTAN, Kan. —Wichita State grabbed an early 3-0 lead and led 3-2 entering the bottom of the eighth, but Kansas State scored four times in the inning to rally for a 6-3 win on Wednesday night at Tointon Family Stadium.The Shockers (19-15) struck for a run in the second and two in the third against Kansas State starter Mason Buss, getting a sacrifice fly from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/camden-johnson/7605">Camden Johnson</a>, an RBI fielder's choice from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/kam-durnin/7604">Kam Durnin</a>&nbsp;and a run-scoring double from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/dayvin-johnson/7596">Dayvin Johnson</a>&nbsp;that made it 3-0. But Wichita State did not score over the next six innings against the Kansas State bullpen.<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/caleb-anderson/8973">Caleb Anderson</a>&nbsp;held the Wildcats to two runs over 3.2 innings in his first start of the season, and reliever&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jack-mount/7599">Jack Mount</a>&nbsp;turned in 2.1 scoreless innings to get the Shockers to the seventh with a 3-2 lead.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/hunter-holmes/8976">Hunter Holmes</a>&nbsp;was able to pitch out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh, but the Wildcats (21-10) surged in front in the eighth on four singles, an error, and a sacrifice fly that turned the 3-2 deficit into a 6-3 lead. Jackson Wentworth closed out the win with a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save.<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/brady-hamilton/7614">Brady Hamilton</a>&nbsp;(1-3) took the loss for Wichita State, allowing two runs without recording an out in the eighth. Jacob Frost (3-1) picked up the win for Kansas State with a scoreless eighth.Four Shockers finished with two hits on the evening:&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/lane-haworth/7609">Lane Haworth</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/dayvin-johnson/7596">Dayvin Johnson</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jordan-rogers/7538">Jordan Rogers</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/camden-johnson/7605">Camden Johnson</a>.Wichita State returns to conference play on Friday night against Florida Atlantic. First pitch from Eck Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 pm.

⚾️ Shockers unable to hold late lead against Wildcats

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701263164849.png" alt="Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Thursday, April 11th, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Thursday, April 11th, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="April 11th, 2024 Early Morning Sports" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=5b2g7-15daffb-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 LISTEN: ⚾ Royals edge Astros 🏀 WBB: HutchCC celebration

Release from Lake Oswego, Oregon Police

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. — On April 9, 2024, 31-year-old Ben McLemore was arrested at the Portland International Airport on an outstanding felony warrant for the following charges:

The charges stem from a reported sexual assault that occurred in the City of Lake Oswego on October 3, 2021. When the crime was reported, police collected available evidence and information and connected the survivor with a Victim’s Advocate.&nbsp; While the survivor was able to connect with an advocate, the criminal investigation was assigned to detectives for follow-up.&nbsp; The survivor has been cooperative in the investigation.

In the investigation, detectives learned that she reported she was assaulted at a home in the 1200 block of Cherry Lane in Lake Oswego, and the suspect was identified as McLemore, who was a Portland Trailblazer at the time of the incident. Mr. McLemore moved out of state during the investigation and frequently traveled overseas for his employment, resulting in delays in the investigation, while detectives continued to gather evidence.

In February of this year, a Clackamas County Grand Jury heard evidence in the case, including testimony from the survivor, and issued an indictment against Mr. McLemore and an arrest warrant for the listed charges.

We applaud the courage of the survivor to come forward and put herself through this arduous process, and we will continue to support her in any way we can. &nbsp;

Mr. McLemore was arraigned in Clackamas County Circuit Court Tuesday, April 10, 2024, at 2:00 P.M.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712833305174.jpeg" alt="Ben McLemore-Photo from Wikipedia" />
 <figcaption>Ben McLemore-Photo from Wikipedia</figcaption>
 </figure>Release from Lake Oswego, Oregon PoliceLAKE OSWEGO, Ore. — On April 9, 2024, 31-year-old Ben McLemore was arrested at the Portland International Airport on an outstanding felony warrant for the following charges:<ul>
 <li>Rape 1</li><li>Unlawful Sexual Penetration 1</li><li>Sex Abuse 2 (2 counts)</li>
 </ul>The charges stem from a reported sexual assault that occurred in the City of Lake Oswego on October 3, 2021. When the crime was reported, police collected available evidence and information and connected the survivor with a Victim’s Advocate.&nbsp; While the survivor was able to connect with an advocate, the criminal investigation was assigned to detectives for follow-up.&nbsp; The survivor has been cooperative in the investigation.In the investigation, detectives learned that she reported she was assaulted at a home in the 1200 block of Cherry Lane in Lake Oswego, and the suspect was identified as McLemore, who was a Portland Trailblazer at the time of the incident. Mr. McLemore moved out of state during the investigation and frequently traveled overseas for his employment, resulting in delays in the investigation, while detectives continued to gather evidence.In February of this year, a Clackamas County Grand Jury heard evidence in the case, including testimony from the survivor, and issued an indictment against Mr. McLemore and an arrest warrant for the listed charges.We applaud the courage of the survivor to come forward and put herself through this arduous process, and we will continue to support her in any way we can. &nbsp;Mr. McLemore was arraigned in Clackamas County Circuit Court Tuesday, April 10, 2024, at 2:00 P.M.

Former Jayhawk McLemore arrested on sex crime charges

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Vinnie Pasquantino broke out of an early season slump with a home run and a career-high five RBIs to lead the Kansas City Royals to an 11-2 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night for their sixth straight victory.

Pasquantino went 3 for 3 with a single, double, homer and a walk with two runs scored after entering the game 4 for 37 with four singles and no RBIs.

“I try not to consider it slumps or highs and lows,” he said. “I just try to consider it that you’re riding this roller coaster and you try to keep it as as much of a kiddie ride as you can. Obviously, the first week and a half wasn’t what I wanted statistically, but tonight felt good.

"The happiest person is probably going to be my wife because I probably won’t be tossing and turning all night. I imagine I’ll sleep a little bit better tonight. Some frustration set in for me. The beautiful thing is when you’re winning, it doesn’t matter.”

The Royals scored seven times in the third inning, jumpstarted by Pasquantino's two-run double. Kansas City, which had eight runs in the seventh against the Chicago White Sox on April 4, have multiple innings of seven or more runs in April for the first time since 2000.

Seth Lugo (2-0) allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings. It was the Royals’ ninth quality start in 12 games, the most in the majors.

“If we keep the right mindset, we could do it all season,” Lugo said of the success of the starting pitching. “There’s no reason not to. Just make sure after a good game (or) a bad game flush it and move on (and) keep working.”

The Royals' six-game winning streak is their longest since last September, when they also won six straight — including a three-game sweep of the Astros in Houston. The Royals will go for a 7-0 homestand in Thursday's finale.

The Royals are 7-1 in their last eight games against the Astros.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said he had seen Pasquantino pressing this season, but he had confidence his slugging first baseman would come around.

“We really feel Vinnie is a really quality major league hitter,” he said. “He’s played in 10 games or whatever prior to tonight. That’s a really small sample. He’s done it at this level before. We know he’s going to continue to do it.”

Spencer Arrighetti (0-1) made his big league debut and worked around trouble in his first two innings before giving up seven runs in his third and final inning. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/astros-arrighetti-debut-fee6ba28349803b56215e689a45d7cb3">Astros' top pitching prospect</a>&nbsp;said his nerves and emotions were part of his struggle.

“When you want something that bad your whole life, you want it to be perfect," Arrighetti said. "You want it to go really smoothly and you want everything to feel good.

"But the reality is before the game I was a little bit of an anxious mess. I feel like I had to work harder to get my emotions down.”

The Royals batted around in the third. Pasquantino recorded his first extra-base hit and first two RBIs of the season with a two-run double. Salvador Perez single and MJ Melendez walked to load the bases before Nelson Velázquez stroked a two-run single to right.

Adam Frazier drove in Melendez with a single. Hunter Renfroe capped the scoring with a two-run double.

The Astros got a pair of runs in the fourth on a double by Yainer Diaz and a sacrifice fly by José Abreu.

But Pasquantino answered with his first homer of the season in the bottom of the fourth and drove in his fourth run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. The Royals added two runs in the eighth, including an RBI single by Pasquantino.

Astros: RHP Wander Suero was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land to make room for Arrighetti.

The Astros will send RHP Hunter Brown (0-1, 6.43 ERA) to the mound to face RHP Brady Singer (1-0, 0.68).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712806261281.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino (9) is congratulated after he scored in the third inning of the team's baseball against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino (9) is congratulated after he scored in the third inning of the team's baseball against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)</figcaption>
 </figure>DAVID SMALE Associated PressKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Vinnie Pasquantino broke out of an early season slump with a home run and a career-high five RBIs to lead the Kansas City Royals to an 11-2 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night for their sixth straight victory.Pasquantino went 3 for 3 with a single, double, homer and a walk with two runs scored after entering the game 4 for 37 with four singles and no RBIs.“I try not to consider it slumps or highs and lows,” he said. “I just try to consider it that you’re riding this roller coaster and you try to keep it as as much of a kiddie ride as you can. Obviously, the first week and a half wasn’t what I wanted statistically, but tonight felt good."The happiest person is probably going to be my wife because I probably won’t be tossing and turning all night. I imagine I’ll sleep a little bit better tonight. Some frustration set in for me. The beautiful thing is when you’re winning, it doesn’t matter.”The Royals scored seven times in the third inning, jumpstarted by Pasquantino's two-run double. Kansas City, which had eight runs in the seventh against the Chicago White Sox on April 4, have multiple innings of seven or more runs in April for the first time since 2000.Seth Lugo (2-0) allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings. It was the Royals’ ninth quality start in 12 games, the most in the majors.“If we keep the right mindset, we could do it all season,” Lugo said of the success of the starting pitching. “There’s no reason not to. Just make sure after a good game (or) a bad game flush it and move on (and) keep working.”The Royals' six-game winning streak is their longest since last September, when they also won six straight — including a three-game sweep of the Astros in Houston. The Royals will go for a 7-0 homestand in Thursday's finale.The Royals are 7-1 in their last eight games against the Astros.Royals manager Matt Quatraro said he had seen Pasquantino pressing this season, but he had confidence his slugging first baseman would come around.“We really feel Vinnie is a really quality major league hitter,” he said. “He’s played in 10 games or whatever prior to tonight. That’s a really small sample. He’s done it at this level before. We know he’s going to continue to do it.”Spencer Arrighetti (0-1) made his big league debut and worked around trouble in his first two innings before giving up seven runs in his third and final inning. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/astros-arrighetti-debut-fee6ba28349803b56215e689a45d7cb3">Astros' top pitching prospect</a>&nbsp;said his nerves and emotions were part of his struggle.“When you want something that bad your whole life, you want it to be perfect," Arrighetti said. "You want it to go really smoothly and you want everything to feel good."But the reality is before the game I was a little bit of an anxious mess. I feel like I had to work harder to get my emotions down.”The Royals batted around in the third. Pasquantino recorded his first extra-base hit and first two RBIs of the season with a two-run double. Salvador Perez single and MJ Melendez walked to load the bases before Nelson Velázquez stroked a two-run single to right.Adam Frazier drove in Melendez with a single. Hunter Renfroe capped the scoring with a two-run double.The Astros got a pair of runs in the fourth on a double by Yainer Diaz and a sacrifice fly by José Abreu.But Pasquantino answered with his first homer of the season in the bottom of the fourth and drove in his fourth run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. The Royals added two runs in the eighth, including an RBI single by Pasquantino.TRANSACTIONSAstros: RHP Wander Suero was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land to make room for Arrighetti.UP NEXTThe Astros will send RHP Hunter Brown (0-1, 6.43 ERA) to the mound to face RHP Brady Singer (1-0, 0.68).

⚾ Pasquantino breaks out, Royals win over Astros

Masters a reunion of the world's best players. But the numbers are shrinking

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The Masters is more than just the first major of the year. It's the first time the whole gang is back together. The question is for how much longer. The 13 players from LIV Golf join the rest of the players in an 89-man field at Augusta National. Masters Chairman Fred Ridley is leaning on invitations in his belief they can get the right players. He believes the Official World Golf Ranking is legitimate. The Masters always reviews the criteria. Ridley did not announce any changes in his news conference. For now, the focus is on winning a green jacket.

Caitlin Clark tells fans 'this place will always be home to me' as she bids farewell to Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Caitlin Clark got a final chance to say goodbye to Iowa fans on Wednesday, and of course there was a big crowd waiting. Clark, who became major college basketball's all-time leading scorer this season on the way to being the consensus national player of the year, was honored along with her teammates in a celebration at Iowa's home arena commemorating the Hawkeyes' second consecutive national runner-up finish in the NCAA tournament. "I would say you've all inspired me as much as I inspired you," Clark said to the approximately 8,000 fans at Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Adam Silver says gambling probe of Toronto's Jontay Porter could lead to banishment from league

NEW YORK (AP) — Toronto's Jontay Porter could face expulsion from the league if the gambling-related accusations against him are found to be true, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday. Silver, speaking after a two-day meeting of the league's Board of Governors, did not reveal any specifics about the investigation surrounding Porter, other than saying the probe is ongoing. Porter has not played since the league said it was looking into betting patterns surrounding his on-court performance.

Jokic scores 41 points and leads Nuggets past Timberwolves 116-107 to take lead in West

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic scored 41 points and powered the Denver Nuggets past Minnesota and into sole possession of first place in the tight Western Conference playoff race with a 116-107 win over the Timberwolves. Jokic made 16 of 20 shots against the NBA's best defense while being guarded most of the night by the league's top defender, Rudy Gobert. Jamal Murray added 20 points in 27 minutes and Michael Porter Jr. scored 18. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 25 points but was a non-factor in the fourth quarter as Denver pulled away.

Jackson Holliday, baseball's top-rated prospect, makes MLB debut for Orioles at Fenway Park

BOSTON (AP) — After his rapid rise to the majors, Jackson Holliday was given a particularly meaningful number with the Baltimore Orioles. Baseball's top-ranked prospect made his big league debut Wednesday night at Fenway Park, starting at second base and batting ninth against the Boston Red Sox. He struck out his first time up. The 20-year-old infielder, selected first in the 2022 amateur draft out of high school in Oklahoma, is a son of Matt Holliday, a seven-time All-Star and the 2007 NL batting champion. Holliday will wear No. 7 for Baltimore. His father wore that number during seven seasons with St. Louis and one with Colorado. But it hadn't been worn by a member of the Orioles since former manager Cal Ripken Sr. was still coaching in 1992.

Former NFL linebacker Terrell Suggs faces charges from Starbucks drive-thru incident

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Former NFL linebacker Terrell Suggs has been arrested after allegedly threatening another man and showing a handgun during a dispute in a Starbucks drive-thru line. Scottsdale Police arrested Suggs and charged the former Baltimore Ravens player with threatening and intimidating and disorderly conduct with a weapon. The incident on March 10 began after a black Range Rover driven by Suggs passed the ordering speaker at Starbucks and had to back up to place his order, backing into the other vehicle.

Hawaii-born sumo champion Akebono Taro dies of heart failure at the age of 54 in Japan

TOKYO (AP) — Hawaii-born Akebono Taro, one of the greats of sumo wrestling and a former grand champion, has died. He was 54. He was the first foreign-born wrestler to reach the level of "yokozuna" — or grand champion — in Japan. At the prime of his career he was a real giant, reported at the time to weigh 500 pounds and standing 6-feet-8. He was born Chad Rowan and moved to Tokyo in the late 1980s and won his first grand championship in 1993. Akebono was an 11-time grand tournament winner and he retired in 2001.

Jets' Aaron Rodgers briefly thought playing career could be over after tearing his Achilles tendon

Aaron Rodgers acknowledged during a podcast appearance this week he briefly thought his playing career could be over after he tore his left Achilles tendon in the New York Jets' season opener. The 40-year-old quarterback said during a wide-ranging 2 1/2-hour interview on the "I Can Fly" podcast that he feared for his playing career immediately after he was hurt just four snaps into his Jets debut on Sept. 11. Rodgers was traded to the Jets last offseason after 18 years with the Green Bay Packers. He said his life has changed for the better since the injury and is excited about playing again.

Monterrey beats Messi and Inter Miami to advance to the CONCACAF semifinals

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — Brandon Vazquez, German Berterame and Jesus Gallardo scored goals and Monterrey beat Inter Miami 3-1 to secure a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals. Vazquez opened the scoring in the 31st minute, Berterame added a goal in 58th and Gallardo sealed the win in the 64th for Monterrey, which progressed to the next round with a 5-2 aggregate score. Monterrey, the team with the highest payroll in the Mexican league, will take on the Columbus Crew in one of the semifinals. America, the reining champion in Mexico, will play against Pachuca in the other.

Fixture pileup a concern as Premier League title contenders look to juggle European commitments

Any dropped points from this stage could be fatal for the three contenders in the Premier League title race. The danger could be greater than ever for Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City this weekend. The games don't appear too difficult on the face of it. Arsenal, the leader on goal difference, is at home to an Aston Villa team in fifth place but going through a difficult spell. Second-place Liverpool hosts a Crystal Palace team with just one win since January. Third-place Manchester City is a point further back and is also at home to third-to-last Luton. The peril is present because this weekend's schedule comes in between two-legged quarterfinals in the Champions League and Europa League.

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

		N-Y Mets	at	Atlanta	7:20 p.m.	(Postponed)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Thursday, April 11th, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Thursday, April 11th, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="April 11th, 2024 Early Morning Sports" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=5b2g7-15daffb-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>AP Sports Summary for April 11th, 2024.Masters a reunion of the world's best players. But the numbers are shrinkingAUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The Masters is more than just the first major of the year. It's the first time the whole gang is back together. The question is for how much longer. The 13 players from LIV Golf join the rest of the players in an 89-man field at Augusta National. Masters Chairman Fred Ridley is leaning on invitations in his belief they can get the right players. He believes the Official World Golf Ranking is legitimate. The Masters always reviews the criteria. Ridley did not announce any changes in his news conference. For now, the focus is on winning a green jacket.Caitlin Clark tells fans 'this place will always be home to me' as she bids farewell to IowaIOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Caitlin Clark got a final chance to say goodbye to Iowa fans on Wednesday, and of course there was a big crowd waiting. Clark, who became major college basketball's all-time leading scorer this season on the way to being the consensus national player of the year, was honored along with her teammates in a celebration at Iowa's home arena commemorating the Hawkeyes' second consecutive national runner-up finish in the NCAA tournament. "I would say you've all inspired me as much as I inspired you," Clark said to the approximately 8,000 fans at Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena.Adam Silver says gambling probe of Toronto's Jontay Porter could lead to banishment from leagueNEW YORK (AP) — Toronto's Jontay Porter could face expulsion from the league if the gambling-related accusations against him are found to be true, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday. Silver, speaking after a two-day meeting of the league's Board of Governors, did not reveal any specifics about the investigation surrounding Porter, other than saying the probe is ongoing. Porter has not played since the league said it was looking into betting patterns surrounding his on-court performance.Jokic scores 41 points and leads Nuggets past Timberwolves 116-107 to take lead in WestDENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic scored 41 points and powered the Denver Nuggets past Minnesota and into sole possession of first place in the tight Western Conference playoff race with a 116-107 win over the Timberwolves. Jokic made 16 of 20 shots against the NBA's best defense while being guarded most of the night by the league's top defender, Rudy Gobert. Jamal Murray added 20 points in 27 minutes and Michael Porter Jr. scored 18. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 25 points but was a non-factor in the fourth quarter as Denver pulled away.Jackson Holliday, baseball's top-rated prospect, makes MLB debut for Orioles at Fenway ParkBOSTON (AP) — After his rapid rise to the majors, Jackson Holliday was given a particularly meaningful number with the Baltimore Orioles. Baseball's top-ranked prospect made his big league debut Wednesday night at Fenway Park, starting at second base and batting ninth against the Boston Red Sox. He struck out his first time up. The 20-year-old infielder, selected first in the 2022 amateur draft out of high school in Oklahoma, is a son of Matt Holliday, a seven-time All-Star and the 2007 NL batting champion. Holliday will wear No. 7 for Baltimore. His father wore that number during seven seasons with St. Louis and one with Colorado. But it hadn't been worn by a member of the Orioles since former manager Cal Ripken Sr. was still coaching in 1992.Former NFL linebacker Terrell Suggs faces charges from Starbucks drive-thru incidentSCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Former NFL linebacker Terrell Suggs has been arrested after allegedly threatening another man and showing a handgun during a dispute in a Starbucks drive-thru line. Scottsdale Police arrested Suggs and charged the former Baltimore Ravens player with threatening and intimidating and disorderly conduct with a weapon. The incident on March 10 began after a black Range Rover driven by Suggs passed the ordering speaker at Starbucks and had to back up to place his order, backing into the other vehicle.Hawaii-born sumo champion Akebono Taro dies of heart failure at the age of 54 in JapanTOKYO (AP) — Hawaii-born Akebono Taro, one of the greats of sumo wrestling and a former grand champion, has died. He was 54. He was the first foreign-born wrestler to reach the level of "yokozuna" — or grand champion — in Japan. At the prime of his career he was a real giant, reported at the time to weigh 500 pounds and standing 6-feet-8. He was born Chad Rowan and moved to Tokyo in the late 1980s and won his first grand championship in 1993. Akebono was an 11-time grand tournament winner and he retired in 2001.Jets' Aaron Rodgers briefly thought playing career could be over after tearing his Achilles tendonAaron Rodgers acknowledged during a podcast appearance this week he briefly thought his playing career could be over after he tore his left Achilles tendon in the New York Jets' season opener. The 40-year-old quarterback said during a wide-ranging 2 1/2-hour interview on the "I Can Fly" podcast that he feared for his playing career immediately after he was hurt just four snaps into his Jets debut on Sept. 11. Rodgers was traded to the Jets last offseason after 18 years with the Green Bay Packers. He said his life has changed for the better since the injury and is excited about playing again.Monterrey beats Messi and Inter Miami to advance to the CONCACAF semifinalsMONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — Brandon Vazquez, German Berterame and Jesus Gallardo scored goals and Monterrey beat Inter Miami 3-1 to secure a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals. Vazquez opened the scoring in the 31st minute, Berterame added a goal in 58th and Gallardo sealed the win in the 64th for Monterrey, which progressed to the next round with a 5-2 aggregate score. Monterrey, the team with the highest payroll in the Mexican league, will take on the Columbus Crew in one of the semifinals. America, the reining champion in Mexico, will play against Pachuca in the other.Fixture pileup a concern as Premier League title contenders look to juggle European commitmentsAny dropped points from this stage could be fatal for the three contenders in the Premier League title race. The danger could be greater than ever for Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City this weekend. The games don't appear too difficult on the face of it. Arsenal, the leader on goal difference, is at home to an Aston Villa team in fifth place but going through a difficult spell. Second-place Liverpool hosts a Crystal Palace team with just one win since January. Third-place Manchester City is a point further back and is also at home to third-to-last Luton. The peril is present because this weekend's schedule comes in between two-legged quarterfinals in the Champions League and Europa League.AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___INTERLEAGUEFinal	Minnesota	3	L.A. Dodgers	2	Final	Miami	5	N.Y. Yankees	2	___AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal	Seattle	6	Toronto	1	Final	Tampa Bay	4	L.A. Angels	2	Final	Cleveland	7	Chicago White Sox	6	Final	Baltimore	7	Boston	5	Final	Kansas City	11	Houston	2	Final	Texas	6	Oakland	2	___NATIONAL LEAGUE		N-Y Mets	at	Atlanta	7:20 p.m.	(Postponed)Final	Philadelphia	4	St. Louis	3	Final	San Francisco	7	Washington	1	Final	Arizona	5	Colorado	3	Final	Milwaukee	7	Cincinnati	2	Final	San Diego	10	Chicago Cubs	2	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Cleveland	110	Memphis	98	Final	Charlotte	115	Atlanta	114	Final	Dallas	111	Miami	92	Final	Brooklyn	106	Toronto	102	Final	Oklahoma City	127	San Antonio	89	Final	Milwaukee	117	Orlando	99	Final	Denver	116	Minnesota	107	Final	Phoenix	124	L.A. Clippers	108	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal	St. Louis	5	Chicago	2	Final	Edmonton	5	Vegas	1	Final OT	Arizona	4	Vancouver	3	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___AMERICAN LEAGUE		Minnesota	at	Detroit	1:10 p.m.			Houston	at	Kansas City	2:10 p.m.			Oakland	at	Texas	2:35 p.m.			Baltimore	at	Boston	7:10 p.m.	___NATIONAL LEAGUE		N-Y Mets	at	Atlanta	12:20 p.m.			Milwaukee	at	Cincinnati	1:10 p.m.			Pittsburgh	at	Philadelphia	6:40 p.m.	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Chicago	at	Detroit	7 p.m.			New York	at	Boston	7:30 p.m.			Houston	at	Utah	9 p.m.			Golden State	at	Portland	10 p.m.			New Orleans	at	Sacramento	10 p.m.	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE		Columbus	at	Florida	7 p.m.			Detroit	at	Pittsburgh	7 p.m.			New Jersey	at	Toronto	7 p.m.			Ottawa	at	Tampa Bay	7 p.m.			Philadelphia	at	N-Y Rangers	7 p.m.			Washington	at	Buffalo	7 p.m.			Montreal	at	N-Y Islanders	7:30 p.m.			Winnipeg	at	Dallas	8 p.m.			San Jose	at	Seattle	10 p.m.			Calgary	at	Los Angeles	10:30 p.m.	___

📢📰 Sports Headlines for Thursday

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -&nbsp;UPDATE: Tonight's (Wednesday) game in Springfield has been rained out. Friday becomes a doubleheader starting at 5 PM.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712828035973.jpeg" alt="Springfield Hammond Stadium" />
 <figcaption>Springfield Hammond Stadium</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -&nbsp;UPDATE: Tonight's (Wednesday) game in Springfield has been rained out. Friday becomes a doubleheader starting at 5 PM.

⚾ Wind Surge game rained out; postponed until Friday

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas police said Wednesday that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice faces charges including aggravated assault after he and another speeding driver of a sports car caused a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-sports-car-crash-24b9e3281d0bca8c0c13a0cedda57b93">chain-reaction crash</a>&nbsp;on a Dallas highway.

Police said that arrest warrants have been issued for the 23-year-old for one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury. Rice's attorney, state Sen. Royce West, said last week that Rice had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-sports-car-crash-dallas-lamborghini-d36bee33712ebb41c4b78f7c3b54b833">driving a Lamborghini sport utility vehicle</a>&nbsp;when the crash occurred.

Arrest warrants were also issued Theodore Knox, 21, who was driving the other speeding sports car, a Corvette, police said. Police said that arrest warrants have been issued for Knox for one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury.

Police said that the passengers in two speeding sports cars who left the scene will not be charged. Police said that Rice and Knox were not currently in custody. West had no immediate comment on Rice's behalf, and it was not clear whether Knox had an attorney.

The crash involved the Lamborghini, a Corvette and four other vehicles and left four people with minor injuries, police have said. Police said the drivers of the Corvette and Lamborghini left following the crash without determining whether anyone needed medical attention or providing their information.

Rice last week&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/stories/doub11e_r/">posted to his Instagram Story</a>&nbsp;that he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-kansas-city-rashee-rice-car-crash-dallas-bbc86e5cccc79d7bbce5103070995994">taking “full responsibility”</a>&nbsp;for his part in the wreck.

Aggravated assault, a second-degree felony, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Collision involving bodily injury, a third-degree felony, is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and collision involving injury is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Police have said the drivers of the Corvette and Lamborghini were speeding in the far left lane when they lost control and the Lamborghini traveled onto the shoulder and hit the center median wall, causing the chain collision.

Rice was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-corvette-lamborghini-crash-dallas-2f3ac72c23b1d9ca4860f8cacc8b173e">leasing the Lamborghini</a>&nbsp;from The Classic Lifestyle, said Kyle Coker, an attorney for the Dallas-based exotic car rental company. And West has said the Corvette belonged to Rice.

Rice was born in Philadelphia but grew up in the Fort Worth, Texas, suburb of North Richland Hills. He played college football at nearby Southern Methodist University, where a breakout senior season in 2022 put the wide receiver on the radar of NFL teams.

The Chiefs selected him in the second round of last year's draft, and he quickly became one of the only dependable options in their passing game.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712789752508.png" alt="In this screen grab taken from dash camera video provided by Bill Nabors, two speeding sports cars, left and second from left, cause a chain-reaction crash on the North Central Expressway, in Dallas, Saturday, March 30, 2024. Dallas police said Wednesday, April 10, that Kansas City Chiefs' wide receiver Rashee Rice faces charges including aggravated assault after he and another speeding driver of a sports car caused a chain-reaction crash on a Dallas highway. (Bill Nabors via AP)" />
 <figcaption>In this screen grab taken from dash camera video provided by Bill Nabors, two speeding sports cars, left and second from left, cause a chain-reaction crash on the North Central Expressway, in Dallas, Saturday, March 30, 2024. Dallas police said Wednesday, April 10, that Kansas City Chiefs' wide receiver Rashee Rice faces charges including aggravated assault after he and another speeding driver of a sports car caused a chain-reaction crash on a Dallas highway. (Bill Nabors via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — Dallas police said Wednesday that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice faces charges including aggravated assault after he and another speeding driver of a sports car caused a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-sports-car-crash-24b9e3281d0bca8c0c13a0cedda57b93">chain-reaction crash</a>&nbsp;on a Dallas highway.Police said that arrest warrants have been issued for the 23-year-old for one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury. Rice's attorney, state Sen. Royce West, said last week that Rice had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-sports-car-crash-dallas-lamborghini-d36bee33712ebb41c4b78f7c3b54b833">driving a Lamborghini sport utility vehicle</a>&nbsp;when the crash occurred.Arrest warrants were also issued Theodore Knox, 21, who was driving the other speeding sports car, a Corvette, police said. Police said that arrest warrants have been issued for Knox for one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712017870514.png" alt="Rice-photo KC Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Rice-photo KC Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>Police said that the passengers in two speeding sports cars who left the scene will not be charged. Police said that Rice and Knox were not currently in custody. West had no immediate comment on Rice's behalf, and it was not clear whether Knox had an attorney.The Chiefs had no immediate comment.The crash involved the Lamborghini, a Corvette and four other vehicles and left four people with minor injuries, police have said. Police said the drivers of the Corvette and Lamborghini left following the crash without determining whether anyone needed medical attention or providing their information.Rice last week&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/stories/doub11e_r/">posted to his Instagram Story</a>&nbsp;that he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-kansas-city-rashee-rice-car-crash-dallas-bbc86e5cccc79d7bbce5103070995994">taking “full responsibility”</a>&nbsp;for his part in the wreck.Aggravated assault, a second-degree felony, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Collision involving bodily injury, a third-degree felony, is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and collision involving injury is punishable by up to five years in prison.Police have said the drivers of the Corvette and Lamborghini were speeding in the far left lane when they lost control and the Lamborghini traveled onto the shoulder and hit the center median wall, causing the chain collision.Rice was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-corvette-lamborghini-crash-dallas-2f3ac72c23b1d9ca4860f8cacc8b173e">leasing the Lamborghini</a>&nbsp;from The Classic Lifestyle, said Kyle Coker, an attorney for the Dallas-based exotic car rental company. And West has said the Corvette belonged to Rice.Rice was born in Philadelphia but grew up in the Fort Worth, Texas, suburb of North Richland Hills. He played college football at nearby Southern Methodist University, where a breakout senior season in 2022 put the wide receiver on the radar of NFL teams.The Chiefs selected him in the second round of last year's draft, and he quickly became one of the only dependable options in their passing game.

Chiefs' Rice facing charges after high-speed crash in Dallas

Charlotte, NC -&nbsp;Hutchinson head coach John Ontjes has been named the 2023-24 NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Coach of the Year.&nbsp;

Coach Ontjes entered his 17th season as head coach for the Blue Dragons.&nbsp;Ontjes' coaching record is now 483-96 overall, including an astounding 276-54 mark in Jayhawk Conference games. Ontjes is Hutchinson's all-time women's basketball coaching wins' leader and leader in winning percentage (83.4 percent).

Josh Gooch, Athletic Director- "John Ontjes would be the first to tell you that being named Coach of the Year is about having great players.&nbsp; He would also tell you that his assistants Phil Anderson and Travis Kirk are the best in the business.&nbsp; Coach Ontjes has the ability to bring the best out in a staff and a group of players maximizing the talents of all."

The Blue Dragons began the preseason unranked before moving into the No.22 spot in the week one rankings. They slowly climbed up in the poll before finally settling into the No.1 spot in week 11. Hutchinson finished out the regular season ranked in the top spot of the national rankings before being awarded the No.1 seed in the national tournament.&nbsp;

Before Ontjes' arrival prior to the 2007-08 season, Hutchinson women's basketball had never had an All-American. The program now has 18 NJCAA All-Americans. Ontjes has coached seven KJCCC Most Valuable Players, seven KJCCC Freshmen of the Year, and 50 All-KJCCC Players.

Josh Gooch, Athletic Director- "Coach Ontjes runs his program with great attention to detail from practice prep to in game strategy.&nbsp; Blue Dragon women's basketball is blessed to have such a great leader for the program."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712760095762.png" alt="Photo Courtesy NJCAA" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy NJCAA</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of the NJCAACharlotte, NC -&nbsp;Hutchinson head coach John Ontjes has been named the 2023-24 NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Coach of the Year.&nbsp;Coach Ontjes entered his 17th season as head coach for the Blue Dragons.&nbsp;Ontjes' coaching record is now 483-96 overall, including an astounding 276-54 mark in Jayhawk Conference games. Ontjes is Hutchinson's all-time women's basketball coaching wins' leader and leader in winning percentage (83.4 percent).Josh Gooch, Athletic Director- "John Ontjes would be the first to tell you that being named Coach of the Year is about having great players.&nbsp; He would also tell you that his assistants Phil Anderson and Travis Kirk are the best in the business.&nbsp; Coach Ontjes has the ability to bring the best out in a staff and a group of players maximizing the talents of all."The Blue Dragons began the preseason unranked before moving into the No.22 spot in the week one rankings. They slowly climbed up in the poll before finally settling into the No.1 spot in week 11. Hutchinson finished out the regular season ranked in the top spot of the national rankings before being awarded the No.1 seed in the national tournament.&nbsp;Before Ontjes' arrival prior to the 2007-08 season, Hutchinson women's basketball had never had an All-American. The program now has 18 NJCAA All-Americans. Ontjes has coached seven KJCCC Most Valuable Players, seven KJCCC Freshmen of the Year, and 50 All-KJCCC Players.Josh Gooch, Athletic Director- "Coach Ontjes runs his program with great attention to detail from practice prep to in game strategy.&nbsp; Blue Dragon women's basketball is blessed to have such a great leader for the program."

🏀 WBB: Ontjes earns NJCAA National Coach of the Year award

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday morning and declared Wednesday, April 10, 2024 as "HutchCC Women's Basketball Team Appreciation Day".

The Blue Dragons won the programs first-ever national championship on Monday, April 1, defeating NW Florida State, 88-80 in overtime, in Casper, Wyoming.

HutchCC finished the season with a 37-0 record, securing the most wins in the programs 50-year history, as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712759407069.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Reno County Board of County Commissioners" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Reno County Board of County Commissioners</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday morning and declared Wednesday, April 10, 2024 as "HutchCC Women's Basketball Team Appreciation Day".<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today is declared HutchCC Women’s Basketball Team Appreciation Day! 🐉 Thank you Reno County Commission for having us in this morning. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreatheFire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreatheFire</a> <a href="https://t.co/FeZblUQTg2">pic.twitter.com/FeZblUQTg2</a>&mdash; Blue Dragon Sports (@bluedragonsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/bluedragonsport/status/1778064927271350436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Blue Dragons won the programs first-ever national championship on Monday, April 1, defeating NW Florida State, 88-80 in overtime, in Casper, Wyoming.HutchCC finished the season with a 37-0 record, securing the most wins in the programs 50-year history, as well.

🏀 WBB: Blue Dragons honored by Reno County Board of Commissioners

(AP) — The women’s NCAA championship game drew a bigger television audience than the men’s title game for the first time, with an average of 18.9 million viewers watching&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-score-iowa-clark-south-carolina-80c556d6a9130a301d0f59e6eb997a4d">undefeated South Carolina beat Iowa and superstar Caitlin Clark</a>, according to ratings released Tuesday.

The Sunday afternoon game on ABC and ESPN outdrew Monday’s men’s final between UConn and Purdue by four million. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-ncaa-championship-uconn-purdue-score-525f5f96f6b007034a2cb928dc8a4dbc">Huskies’ 75-60 victory</a>&nbsp;averaged 14.82 million on TBS and TNT.

The audience for the women’s game — in which the Gamecocks won their fourth national title and denied Clark’s Hawkeyes their first — peaked at 24.1 million during the final 15 minutes.

“You’re seeing the growth in many places: attendance records, viewership and social media engagement surrounding March Madness,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “I don’t think you can attribute it just to Iowa, though. A rising tide does lifts all boats. But I think all those boats have been on many different waterways. The product is really good, and the increase of exposure is getting rewarded.”

It was the second most-watched non-Olympic women’s sporting event on U.S. television, trailing only the 2015 Women’s World Cup final between the United States and Japan, which averaged 25.4 million on Fox. That also was on a Sunday and took place in prime time on the East Coast.

The record for the most-watched women’s basketball game still belongs to the gold medal game of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics between the United States and Brazil, which averaged 19.5 million. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley played for that U.S. team.

Nielsen’s numbers include an estimate of the number of people who watched outside their homes, which wasn’t measured before 2020. Due to cord-cutting, the in-home audience has steadily declined annually.

The audience for the national title game was up 90% over last year when Clark and Iowa fell to LSU. That also was the first time since 1995 that the championship was on network television.

The audience was 289% bigger than the viewership for the Gamecocks’ title two years ago, when they beat UConn on ESPN.

“I had not seen it much (women’s basketball) before this year. I didn’t make it appointment television. This year, it was appointment television,” said former CBS Sports president Neal Pilson, who now runs a sports television consulting company. “That’s what happened when you see those numbers. There were a lot of people making notes to sit down and watch the games.”

During the Final Four, Clark said the audience growth was benefiting all of women’s sports, not just basketball.

“I think you see it across the board, whether it’s softball, whether it’s gymnastics, volleyball. People want to watch. It’s just when they’re given the opportunity, the research and the facts show that people love it,” she said.

Clark and Iowa have the three biggest audiences for women’s college basketball. The Hawkeyes’ victory over UConn on Friday night averaged 14.2 million, and their April 1 victory over LSU in the Elite Eight drew 12.3 million.

Iowa’s six NCAA Tournament games on ESPN and ABC averaged 10.07 million.

However, as Clark heads to the WNBA, many wonder if the college game can continue to attract large audiences.

Clark was the marquee player of March Madness, but there was an impressive group of freshmen, headlined by Southern California’s JuJu Watkins, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and Texas’ Madison Booker. Watkins set the NCAA record for points by a freshman with 920.

“There are also some great freshmen coming into the game next year who I think are going to make a tremendous impact. As long as we keep telling the story, there’s still room to grow the game,” Close said.

It also helped that the women’s game got increased exposure during the regular season on network television.

Fox carried 14 women’s games this season, including three in prime time, NBC two, and CBS had the Big Ten Tournament championship. ABC had five regular-season games and nine during the NCAA Tournament.

Fox has announced the Women’s Champions Classic for next season on Dec. 7. The prime-time doubleheader will feature UConn, Iowa, Louisville and Tennessee.

Pilson thinks this year’s tournament has paved the way for further growth. Just maybe not at the level seen with Clark’s following.

“I wouldn’t call it a blip because I think the women’s game is going to definitely improve from ratings and exposure here on out,” he said. “The broadcast and top cable sports channels can still deliver an audience. Midseason coverage tends to focus on the teams and personalities to make the public aware of the athletes. But the game has improved over the last five years. It has become faster and more competitive. I also think they have learned from the NBA and NFL on how to promote its stars.”

Most audiences during March Madness also tuned in before and after Iowa’s games.

UConn’s 80-73 win over Southern California in the Elite Eight on April 1, which tipped off after the Iowa game, averaged 6.7 million. During the Sweet 16 on March 30, LSU’s victory over UCLA, which preceded the Iowa game, averaged 3.8 million.

“The great thing about what’s happened the last two years is there are people who only watch out for Caitlin Clark, but there are also people who watch for Caitlin Clark and became interested in the other games,” said Jon Lewis, who runs the Sports Media Watch site. “It’s not like the Caitlin Clark games did amazingly well and every other game was at the same level that it was two years ago. They were also tuning in on days when Caitlin Clark didn’t play, which is really notable. Now, none of those numbers are at the level of what we saw for the Iowa games, but they are a lot better than what the tournament was getting before.”

The championship game’s return to network television has also benefited the women’s game. UConn’s victory over Tennessee in 1995 averaged 7.44 million on CBS. Despite ESPN’s work raising the profile of the tournament since it acquired the rights in 1996, the closest the network got to that number for the final was in 2002, when 5.68 million watched UConn beat Oklahoma.

“I think our game has been good for a long time and I think people have just missed the boat. Now we’ve finally had the exposure, and people have understood, ‘Wow, I haven’t watched women’s basketball for a long time, I’ve missed something.’ I don’t think they’re going to want to miss anymore,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said during the Final Four. “Caitlin has certainly been a tremendous star for our game, but there are so many stars in our game. So we’re just going to latch onto that next one next year.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712757542997.png" alt="South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley celebrates after the Final Four college basketball championship game against Iowa in thee women's NCAA Tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Cleveland. South Carolina won 87-75. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)" />
 <figcaption>South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley celebrates after the Final Four college basketball championship game against Iowa in thee women's NCAA Tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Cleveland. South Carolina won 87-75. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)</figcaption>
 </figure>(AP) — The women’s NCAA championship game drew a bigger television audience than the men’s title game for the first time, with an average of 18.9 million viewers watching&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-score-iowa-clark-south-carolina-80c556d6a9130a301d0f59e6eb997a4d">undefeated South Carolina beat Iowa and superstar Caitlin Clark</a>, according to ratings released Tuesday.The Sunday afternoon game on ABC and ESPN outdrew Monday’s men’s final between UConn and Purdue by four million. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-ncaa-championship-uconn-purdue-score-525f5f96f6b007034a2cb928dc8a4dbc">Huskies’ 75-60 victory</a>&nbsp;averaged 14.82 million on TBS and TNT.The audience for the women’s game — in which the Gamecocks won their fourth national title and denied Clark’s Hawkeyes their first — peaked at 24.1 million during the final 15 minutes.“You’re seeing the growth in many places: attendance records, viewership and social media engagement surrounding March Madness,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “I don’t think you can attribute it just to Iowa, though. A rising tide does lifts all boats. But I think all those boats have been on many different waterways. The product is really good, and the increase of exposure is getting rewarded.”It was the second most-watched non-Olympic women’s sporting event on U.S. television, trailing only the 2015 Women’s World Cup final between the United States and Japan, which averaged 25.4 million on Fox. That also was on a Sunday and took place in prime time on the East Coast.The record for the most-watched women’s basketball game still belongs to the gold medal game of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics between the United States and Brazil, which averaged 19.5 million. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley played for that U.S. team.Nielsen’s numbers include an estimate of the number of people who watched outside their homes, which wasn’t measured before 2020. Due to cord-cutting, the in-home audience has steadily declined annually.The audience for the national title game was up 90% over last year when Clark and Iowa fell to LSU. That also was the first time since 1995 that the championship was on network television.The audience was 289% bigger than the viewership for the Gamecocks’ title two years ago, when they beat UConn on ESPN.“I had not seen it much (women’s basketball) before this year. I didn’t make it appointment television. This year, it was appointment television,” said former CBS Sports president Neal Pilson, who now runs a sports television consulting company. “That’s what happened when you see those numbers. There were a lot of people making notes to sit down and watch the games.”During the Final Four, Clark said the audience growth was benefiting all of women’s sports, not just basketball.“I think you see it across the board, whether it’s softball, whether it’s gymnastics, volleyball. People want to watch. It’s just when they’re given the opportunity, the research and the facts show that people love it,” she said.Clark and Iowa have the three biggest audiences for women’s college basketball. The Hawkeyes’ victory over UConn on Friday night averaged 14.2 million, and their April 1 victory over LSU in the Elite Eight drew 12.3 million.Iowa’s six NCAA Tournament games on ESPN and ABC averaged 10.07 million.However, as Clark heads to the WNBA, many wonder if the college game can continue to attract large audiences.Clark was the marquee player of March Madness, but there was an impressive group of freshmen, headlined by Southern California’s JuJu Watkins, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and Texas’ Madison Booker. Watkins set the NCAA record for points by a freshman with 920.“There are also some great freshmen coming into the game next year who I think are going to make a tremendous impact. As long as we keep telling the story, there’s still room to grow the game,” Close said.It also helped that the women’s game got increased exposure during the regular season on network television.Fox carried 14 women’s games this season, including three in prime time, NBC two, and CBS had the Big Ten Tournament championship. ABC had five regular-season games and nine during the NCAA Tournament.Fox has announced the Women’s Champions Classic for next season on Dec. 7. The prime-time doubleheader will feature UConn, Iowa, Louisville and Tennessee.Pilson thinks this year’s tournament has paved the way for further growth. Just maybe not at the level seen with Clark’s following.“I wouldn’t call it a blip because I think the women’s game is going to definitely improve from ratings and exposure here on out,” he said. “The broadcast and top cable sports channels can still deliver an audience. Midseason coverage tends to focus on the teams and personalities to make the public aware of the athletes. But the game has improved over the last five years. It has become faster and more competitive. I also think they have learned from the NBA and NFL on how to promote its stars.”Most audiences during March Madness also tuned in before and after Iowa’s games.UConn’s 80-73 win over Southern California in the Elite Eight on April 1, which tipped off after the Iowa game, averaged 6.7 million. During the Sweet 16 on March 30, LSU’s victory over UCLA, which preceded the Iowa game, averaged 3.8 million.“The great thing about what’s happened the last two years is there are people who only watch out for Caitlin Clark, but there are also people who watch for Caitlin Clark and became interested in the other games,” said Jon Lewis, who runs the Sports Media Watch site. “It’s not like the Caitlin Clark games did amazingly well and every other game was at the same level that it was two years ago. They were also tuning in on days when Caitlin Clark didn’t play, which is really notable. Now, none of those numbers are at the level of what we saw for the Iowa games, but they are a lot better than what the tournament was getting before.”The championship game’s return to network television has also benefited the women’s game. UConn’s victory over Tennessee in 1995 averaged 7.44 million on CBS. Despite ESPN’s work raising the profile of the tournament since it acquired the rights in 1996, the closest the network got to that number for the final was in 2002, when 5.68 million watched UConn beat Oklahoma.“I think our game has been good for a long time and I think people have just missed the boat. Now we’ve finally had the exposure, and people have understood, ‘Wow, I haven’t watched women’s basketball for a long time, I’ve missed something.’ I don’t think they’re going to want to miss anymore,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said during the Final Four. “Caitlin has certainly been a tremendous star for our game, but there are so many stars in our game. So we’re just going to latch onto that next one next year.”

🏀 Women’s NCAA title game outdraws the men’s championship with an average of 18.9 million viewers

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712755459168.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Kansas Athletics<div>LAWRENCE, Kan. &ndash; In the third annual Buck O&rsquo;Neil Classic, the Kansas Jayhawks defeated No. 20 Nebraska 13-11 at Hoglund Ballpark. The Jayhawks scored 13 runs on 14 hits to improve to 3-0 all-time in the Buck O&rsquo;Neil Classic.
Michael Brooks had three hits, while John Nett, Lenny Ashby and Mike Koszewski had multi-hit efforts. Cooper Moore earned his first career win with 2.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
This year&rsquo;s Buck O&rsquo;Neil Classic was moved to Hoglund Ballpark to celebrate the first night game the Kansas City Monarchs ever played, which came in early March 1930 in Lawrence.
HOW IT HAPPENED &bull; Nebraska (22-8) got on the board first as they scored a run in the first inning on an RBI groundout to take a 1-0 lead. &bull; Kansas (16-14) answered in a big way with five runs in the second inning. Ben Hartl hit a solo home run with one out to tie the game at 1-1. Then, a run scored on a throwing error to give KU a 2-1 lead. Jake English came up next and delivered a three-run single on a 3-2 pitch with the runners going. That gave Kansas a 5-1 lead at the end of the second inning. &bull; The Cornhuskers came back and tied it in the top of the third with four runs on an RBI double, RBI single and a two-run homer by Ben Columbus. &bull; The Jayhawks matched Nebraska with a four-run bottom of the third. An RBI single by Ty Wisdom, an RBI double by Collier Cranford, an RBI sac bunt from Mike Koszewski and a John Nett RBI single put Kansas ahead 9-5. &bull; Koszewski batted again in the fourth and helped KU stretch its lead with a two-run single to make it 11-5. &bull; After a quiet fifth inning for both team, Nebraska put together a five-run sixth inning. Riley Silva drew a bases loaded walk for the first run of the frame. Cole Evans hit next and crushed a grand slam over the batter&rsquo;s eye in center field. That cut the score to 11-10. &bull; A sacrifice fly by Collier Cranford in the bottom of the sixth put Kansas back ahead by two runs at 12-10. &bull; In the bottom of the eighth inning, Lenny Ashby provided an insurance run with a solo homer into the night sky. That gave Kansas a 13-10 advantage. &bull; Nebraska fought back in the ninth inning by loading the bases with one out. The Cornhuskers scored one run on an infield single but a double play ended the game.
PITCHERS OF RECORD Win: Cooper Moore (1-1) Final line: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO Loss: Kyle Froehlich (0-1) Final line: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 0 SO Save: Hunter Cranton (4) Final line: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 SO
PLAYER OF THE GAME Mike Koszewski: Koszewski went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored in his first start since March 23. Batting in the nine-spot, he had run-scoring hits in the second and third innings.</div><div>QUOTABLES &amp; NOTABLES &ldquo;It feels great and it feels great how we did it. If you look at the course of the game, we had a string of 11 out of 13 quality at-bats in a row. We stuck to it offensively and for the most part were able to make plays. The feel with how we competed this past weekend, for a massive chunk of the weekend, was winning baseball in terms of the feel. It just feels good when you actually get rewarded for it.&rdquo; &ndash; Head Coach Dan Fitzgerald
&ldquo;I think it was a good bounce back from the team showing really good grit. We worked really hard on our off day yesterday. We came back and showed up today.&rdquo; &ndash; Kodey Shojinaga
&bull; Kansas improved to 3-0 all-time in the Buck O&rsquo;Neil Classic. &bull; Kansas is now 3-2 against ranked opponents this season. &bull; Brooks finished with three hits for his 11th multi-hit game of the season. &bull; Ashby launched his seventh home run of the season. &bull; Nett collected two hits for his team-high 12th multi-hit effort of the year. &bull; Hartl blasted his third home run of the season. &bull; Moore earned his first career win.
UP NEXT Kansas will host a three-game series against Pacific this weekend, which begins on Friday at 5 p.m. CT. Fans can purchase tickets by contacting the Kansas ticket office at 785-864-3141 or by visiting the ticketing page <a href="https://kuathletics.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetGroupList?groupCode=BSB&linkID=kansas&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=&utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=navbar_website" style="color: transparent;font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">here</a>. Students receive free admission all season by presenting their KU student ID at the ticket booth.</div>

⚾️ KU beats No. 20 Nebraska in Buck O’Neil Classic

Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp; WICHITA, Kan. — No. 1/2 Oklahoma scored seven runs in the first two innings and cruised from there to defeat Wichita State, 7-0, Tuesday night at Wilkins Stadium.

Wichita State (18-15) dropped its 42nd straight game to the Sooners and 5-53 all-time against OU.The Shockers managed just four hits on the night, one each from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/cc-wong/8967">CC Wong</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/addison-barnard/7558">Addison Barnard</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/caroline-tallent/7571">Caroline Tallent</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/jessica-garcia/7563">Jessica Garcia</a>.

<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lauren-howell/7566">Lauren Howell</a>&nbsp;(3-3) took the loss in just 1.0 inning in the start. Oklahoma scored all seven of its runs off Howell on just three hits and five walks.&nbsp; The performance of the night belonged to&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/alison-cooper/7561">Alison Cooper</a>&nbsp;out of the bullpen. The lefty held the Sooners scoreless over the final 6.0 innings, allowing just six hits to go with one walk and five strikeouts.

Oklahoma did all of its damage in the first and second innings. A leadoff walk in the top of the first led to an RBI double from Alyssa Brito to open the scoring.&nbsp; The Sooners would tack on two more on an RBI double from Kinzie Hansen and an RBI groundout from Kasidi Pickering.In the second, an infield single and three straight walks made it 4-0. A sac fly and a two-run double upped the lead to 7-0 and that would be it for the scoring on the night.

Wichita State's best scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth when Wong drew a walk and Barnard doubled to put runners on second and third with only one out, but a strikeout and a lineout left them stranded.

Wichita State heads to the Sunshine State to face South Florida for a three-game series, April 12-14.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712747624239.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Wichita State athletics.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Wichita State athletics.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp; WICHITA, Kan. — No. 1/2 Oklahoma scored seven runs in the first two innings and cruised from there to defeat Wichita State, 7-0, Tuesday night at Wilkins Stadium.Wichita State (18-15) dropped its 42nd straight game to the Sooners and 5-53 all-time against OU.The Shockers managed just four hits on the night, one each from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/cc-wong/8967">CC Wong</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/addison-barnard/7558">Addison Barnard</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/caroline-tallent/7571">Caroline Tallent</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/jessica-garcia/7563">Jessica Garcia</a>.<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lauren-howell/7566">Lauren Howell</a>&nbsp;(3-3) took the loss in just 1.0 inning in the start. Oklahoma scored all seven of its runs off Howell on just three hits and five walks.&nbsp; The performance of the night belonged to&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/alison-cooper/7561">Alison Cooper</a>&nbsp;out of the bullpen. The lefty held the Sooners scoreless over the final 6.0 innings, allowing just six hits to go with one walk and five strikeouts.Oklahoma did all of its damage in the first and second innings. A leadoff walk in the top of the first led to an RBI double from Alyssa Brito to open the scoring.&nbsp; The Sooners would tack on two more on an RBI double from Kinzie Hansen and an RBI groundout from Kasidi Pickering.In the second, an infield single and three straight walks made it 4-0. A sac fly and a two-run double upped the lead to 7-0 and that would be it for the scoring on the night.Wichita State's best scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth when Wong drew a walk and Barnard doubled to put runners on second and third with only one out, but a strikeout and a lineout left them stranded.Wichita State heads to the Sunshine State to face South Florida for a three-game series, April 12-14.

🥎 Shockers Fall to No. 1 Oklahoma, 7-0

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701263164849.png" alt="Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Wednesday. April 10th, 2024" />
 <figcaption>Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Wednesday. April 10th, 2024</figcaption>
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