TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014 SPORTS UConn, Notre Dame advance to title game NASHVILLE: Women’s basketball came away a win- ing beating UConn twice in the national semifinals. last one though, topping Notre Dame in the Final night will be a record ninth for Auriemma, breaking ner Sunday night. After a season-long buildup, the McGraw drew attention to that fact during the tour- Four last season en route to the school’s eighth a tie with Pat Summitt for most all-time in the NCAA tournament will be decided by the perfect nament selection show. The Huskies (39-0) won the national championship. A UConn victory Tuesday women’s game. It will also cap the fifth perfect sea- championship game. son for the Huskies and make them only the second The undefeated titans of the sport this season team ever to go 40-0, joining Baylor which did it will meet tonight in an historic championship game two seasons ago. Auriemma has never lost a cham- when UConn plays Notre Dame. It will mark the first pionship game. time in NCAA basketball history that unbeaten Notre Dame will be trying for its second national teams will play for a title when the former Big East championship. The Irish have had chances lately to rivals face each other. win their first title since 2001, advancing to the “It is pretty amazing,” Irish coach Muffet McGraw national semifinals in four straight seasons. They told The Associated Press after her team beat lost in the championship game twice during that Maryland 87-61. “So many of the media and fans span. They advanced to tonight’s game with a con- have been looking at this all season long. It’s great vincing 87-61 victory over Maryland behind 28 that we’ve made it this far. points from senior All-American Kayla McBride. “Both of us remaining undefeated. See who the Notre Dame played without senior Natalie best team is.” Said UConn guard From Moriah Achonwa, who suffered a torn ACL in the regional Jefferson: “Now we can finally talk about it. That has final victory over Baylor. been the talk of this whole tournament and I guess Even without their star forward, the Irish domi- it is finally here.” nated the Terrapins on the boards, outrebounding The teams didn’t play during the regular season them in record fashion. Notre Dame had a 50-21 this year for the first time since 1995 as Notre Dame rebounding advantage, including a 19-4 mark on moved to the ACC. That helped set up the champi- the offensive end. It was the widest rebounding onship showdown that will put the sport in the margin ever in a Final Four game, shattering the spotlight. “It looked to me like as the season went previous mark of 19 set by Louisiana Tech in 1989. on it almost looked like it was inevitable to happen,” Maryland broke the national semifinals record for UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. fewest rebounds in a game of 25 set by Minnesota “It was supposed to happen. Our sport doesn’t in 2004. have enough significant moments. ... To have the They’ll need a similar effort against UConn and spotlight on Tuesday on two teams that one is its imposing front line of Breanna Stewart and going to lose for the first time this year, it’s pretty Stefanie Dolson. remarkable when you think how hard it’s to do for The Huskies got off to a sluggish start against one team much less two.” Stanford before taking control in the second half in Notre Dame (37-0) is one of the rare teams that NASHVILLE: Connecticut guard Bria Hartley (14) shoots against Stanford guard Amber Orrange (33) a 75-56 victory. They probably can’t afford the same has had success against the Huskies in recent histo- during the second half of the semifinal game in the Final Four of the NCAA womenís college basket- thing to happen for a fourth straight game if they ry, winning seven of the past nine meetings, includ- ball tournament. — AP hope to win that record title. — AP Bahrain sees bright future for night race MANAMA: Bahrain believes its Formula One cir- cuit has a bright future after the country’s first floodlit grand prix turned out a thriller on Sunday. Sakhir Circuit chairman Zayed Alzayani told Reuters the decision to turn the 10th anniversary event into a night race was a statement of intent for the future of motorsport in the Gulf king- dom. “There’s more to come,” he said in an inter- view at the Sakhir desert circuit. “We want to branch out. Not just the racing aspects of motor- sports but the other stuff that goes around it. The development of teams, research and manu- facturing relevant to the motorsport industry. “A racing school, to develop talent. The miss- ing pieces of the puzzle to make motorsport NEW YORK: This image released by Starpix shows professional wresting personalities happen.” Another piece of that jigsaw was fitted Hulk Hogan (left) and John Cena on top of the The Hard Rock Cafe during a news con- into place on Sunday with the announcement ference for Wrestlemania 30. — AP that Bell Racing Helmets would be relocating its global research and development and manufac- turing operations to a facility within the circuit Hogan hosts grounds from 2015. Bahrain is an important stakeholder in Formula One, with state invest- ment fund Mumtalakat owning the circuit as BAHRAIN: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the Bahrain Formula ‘WrestleMania 30’ well as half of the McLaren team. The country One Grand Prix at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit on Sunday, April 6, 2014. — AP also has considerable influence within the gov- in the Middle East and when temperatures reach Alzayani painted an upbeat picture for the NEW ORLEANS: The Hulkster showed he And what a scene it was. Cesaro won the erning International Automobile Federation, their peak. The shift to evening opens up far future, despite a continuing backdrop of civil can host, 30 years later. Three decades after Battle Royal - named for Andre the Giant with FIA president Jean Todt making Sunday’s more possibilities. The circuit said the race drew unrest - which led to the event being cancelled he took part in the first “WrestleMania” at this year for the first time - by heaving the race the first he has attended this season. its biggest crowd yet with 31,000 attending on in 2011 and has triggered subsequent calls by Madison Square Garden, Hulk Hogan sizeable Big Show over the top rope. By installing floodlights, Bahrain intends to Sunday. This year’s grand prix was the third human rights activists for the race to be can- presided over the 30th version of World In the night’s shocker Brock Lesnar keep activities running at the circuit throughout round of the season but Bahrain has opened the celled. Wrestling Entertainment’s signature event defeated The Undertaker, ending his 21- the year and at more fan-friendly times. championship before and Alzayani was coy on “In terms of public perception, I don’t think at the Superdome. The 60-year-old sported consecutive match Wrestlemania winning “The floodlights will definitely open up a big- whether the race might seek that slot again next our image was affected,” he said of 2011 and its a sleeveless red T-shirt that showcased his streak. In other events, The Shield also beat ger spectrum for us,” said Alzayani. “We will be year. “We are in constant talks with Bernie bloody aftermath. “I think 2012 wiped out the still-considerable pythons, and a red ban- the team of the New Age Outlaws and Kane able to use the track throughout the summer (Ecclestone),” he said. “It’s premature now to talk misery of 2011. We had a fairly good attendance, danna with “Hulkamania” on it in bright yel- in a six-man tag team match and A.J. Lee now, whereas in the past we had to shut down about next year’s calendar. Towards the end of good support and the race went on despite all low letters. defending the WWE Divas Championship. practically from mid-May to September because the year we’ll talk and exchange ideas and see the speculation and negative media. “This all started with me and Mr. T,” John Cena got his second consecutive of the heat. what suits better. “In 2004 we had Humvees at the gates with Hogan said. Vince McMahon had the vision WrestleMania victory with a defeat of Bray “In the past the only thing that was running “They also have to look at logistics and team machine guns. That was because of concern to make this entertainment as big as he did,” Wyatt. WWE superstar Triple H, McMahon’s through the summer months was the drag movements and cargo movements. But I think from the F1 travelling family that because of the Hogan said. “Fast forward to 30 years later son in law, was defeated by crowd favorite championship because it’s a floodlit strip. We will we did well this year by securing testing before Iraq war we wanted extra security. We had and now I’m the host? I would have never Daniel Bryan in opening match of take advantage of the lighting now.” the season. “It’s not out of reach. But it’s some- cement blocks ... we don’t have any of that believed that 30 years later I would still be WrestleMania 30.