UConn breaks own consective win mark
HARTFORD, Conn., March 8 (UPI) -- Connecticut posted a 59-44 victory over Notre Dame in the Big East Tournament semifinals Monday, collecting its NCAA-record 71st straight women's hoops win.
Tina Charles put in 16 points and grabbed 17 rebounds while Kalana Greene added 15 points and Maya Moore chipped in with 11 points and 10 rebounds, as the Huskies (32-0) broke their own record for consecutive NCAA Division I women's basketball wins, set from 2001-03.
Connecticut has won all 71 games by double digits. The only longer winning streak in Division I history is the 88-game run UCLA posted from 1971-1974.
The game's final minute included a scary incident in which Connecticut guard Caroline Doty fell to the floor after being hit in the back of the neck by a Notre Dame player trying to get to the ball.
Doty lay motionless for several minutes while being attended to, but she eventually sat up and walked off the court under her own power.
Ga. police to interview Roethlisberger
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga., March 8 (UPI) -- Arrangements were being made for Georgia authorities to interview Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in a sexual assault case, police said.
Milledgeville, Ga., Police Chief Woodrow Blue said Monday his department has been in touch with Roethlisberger's attorney regarding an accusation of sexual assault against the signal-caller.
Blue said Roethlisberger is cooperating but did not divulge any details of the case, saying only it is still in the investigative stage.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation special agent Tom Davis told reporters he anticipates conducting about eight interviews during the next few days.
The alleged incident happened Thursday night at Milledgeville club Capitol City. The female complainant was treated at the Oconee Regional Medical Center in Milledgeville and released, officials said.
GMs talk rule changes after Savard blow
BOCA RATON, Fla., March 8 (UPI) -- NHL general managers will discuss changing the rules on checks to the head at meetings beginning Monday in Florida, league officials say.
The discussion, which comes after the Boston Bruins' Marc Savard was knocked cold Sunday by a shoulder to his head from Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke, will involve whether to make such "blindside" checks illegal, The New York Times reported.
The newspaper said the GMs -- gathering in Boca Raton, Fla., for annual meetings -- would address that and several other issues revolving around hits and concussions, and aim to come up with a set of recommendations to be presented to the league's competition committee.
NHL Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell told the Times he believes the character of blows to the head have changed. Previously most head shots that caused injuries were on illegal plays, but Cooke's blow to Savard didn't technically break any rules.
Yet it was unexpected, coming from Savard's "blind side" at high speed, thus leaving the Bruin vulnerable to concussion.
Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli told NHL.com Monday that Savard was doing better after being taken off the ice on a stretcher. He was diagnosed with a Grade 2 concussion.
Raiders release injury-prone WR Walker
OAKLAND, Calif., March 8 (UPI) -- Injury-prone wide receiver Javon Walker has been released by the Oakland Raiders, the team said Monday.
Also getting his walking papers from the club was veteran defensive end Greg Ellis.
Walker signed a six-year, $55 million contract with Oakland prior to the 2008 campaign, but in the course of two injury-filled seasons with the team he made just 15 receptions for 196 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Walker, 31, has not performed nearly as well since his 89-catch, 1,382-yard season with Green Bay in 2004, in which he scored 12 TDs. He has undergone several operations on his right knee and missed much of the 2008 season after undergoing ankle surgery.
Ellis played one year with Oakland after being released by Dallas following the 2008 season. The 34-year-old recorded seven sacks and 29 tackles in 14 games for the Raiders in 2009.
