La Crosse Tribune Sports News

The Badgers avoid dropping a ninth straight game — though no one’s entirely happy. 

DURHAM, N.H. — Gritting through a tight non-conference affair, the No. 3 University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team decided to put the pedal to the road.

The Badgers committed 13 of their 23 turnovers in the first half, then allowed East Carolina to shoot 44.8 percent from the field in the second half in a 61-43 defeat.

State Journal reporter Jim Polzin breaks down the matchups in Saturday's game.

The Badgers play the Gophers at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.

SYDNEY (AP) — American Jordan Spieth shot a 2-under 69 to move into a three-way share of the lead at the Australian Open after Saturday's third round.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rookie guard Zach LaVine scored 18 of his team-high 28 points off the bench in the second quarter, and Mo Williams had 25 points and 11 assists to lead the Minnesota Timberw…

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Marc Gasol had 26 points and nine assists as the Memphis Grizzlies held off the Trail Blazers 112-99 on Friday night to snap a nine-game Portland winning streak.

The Coulee Region Chill used a third-period goal by Dominik Florian to edge the Minnesota Magicians 2-1 Friday night at the Green Island Ice Arena.

BOYS BASKETBALL

NICEVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jarvis Summers scored 23 points and Mississippi closed with a 12-3 run to beat No. 23 Creighton 75-68 on Friday night in the Emerald Coast Classic.

ONALASKA — The Onalaska High School boys hockey team’s season started out with a tough nonconference test against La Crescent Friday night, but if first impressions count for anything, Hilltop…

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Denzel Valentine had a career-high 25 points and No. 20 Michigan State beat Marquette 79-68 Friday night in a semifinal at the Orlando Classic.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Michael Qualls scored a career-high 22 points and No. 25 Arkansas improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2006 with an 89-73 victory over North Texas on Friday night.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Jimmy Hayes scored the winning goal to lift the Florida Panthers over the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Friday night.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Tony Parker had 27 points and the San Antonio Spurs held on to beat the Sacramento Kings 112-104 on Friday night, —their second straight victory without Gregg Popovich.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook scored 32 points in his first game back from a broken right hand, and the Thunder rolled past the Knicks 105-78 on Friday night.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook scored 32 points in his first game back from a broken right hand, and the Thunder rolled past the Knicks 105-78 on Friday night.

HOUSTON (AP) — Blake Griffin had 30 points and 10 rebounds and Jamal Crawford added 21 points to help the Los Angeles Clippers coast to a 102-85 win over the injury-depleted Houston Rockets on…