The highlights of Saturday's AP Sports report. An up-to-the minute listing of all stories planned, including games and events, is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, https://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan. You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page, https://newsroom.ap.org. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports
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All times EDT
TOP STORIES
TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN
MELBOURNE, Australia — Ash Barty has won the Australian Open women’s final in straight sets against Danielle Collins, stopping a 44-year drought for Aussies at their home Grand Slam tournament. Barty is the first Australian to win a singles title here since Chris O’Neil in 1978. By John Pye. SENT: 950 words, photos. With TEN--Australian Open-Move Over O’Neil (Sent), TEN--Australian Open-Men’s Final Preview (Sent), TEN--Australian Open-Men’s Doubles (Sent) and TEN--Australian Open-Glance (Sent).
BKN--NETS-WARRIORS
SAN FRANCISCO — Despite San Francisco’s strict vaccination rules, unvaccinated Nets guard Kyrie Irving — who can’t play at home in New York — gets to play as an “entertainer” when Brooklyn visits the Golden State Warriors in an arena that requires all fans to be vaccinated. By Janie McCauley. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts 8:30 p.m.
NOTABLE
BKC--T25-DUKE-LOUISVILLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — AJ Griffin scored 22 points, including consecutive 3—pointers during a late 12-0 run that helped No. 9 Duke top Louisville. The Cardinals began a second interim coaching stint with Mike Pegues. By Gary B. Graves. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game started at noon.
BKC--T25-OKLAHOMA-AUBURN
AUBURN, Ala. — No. 1 Auburn rides a 16-game winning streak into a game with Oklahoma, part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. By John Zenor. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game started at 2 p.m. With BKC--T25-Auburn-Pearl Contract (Sent).
BKC--T25-MICHIGAN-MICHIGAN STATE
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan travels to play No. 10 Michigan State in the first meeting of the season after the first scheduled matchup was postponed due to the Wolverines' COVID-19 outbreak. By Larry Lage. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game started at 12:30 p.m.
BKC--T25-TENNESSEE-TEXAS
AUSTIN, Texas — No. 18 Tennessee plays at Texas in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Vols coach Rick Barnes led Texas for 17 seasons, taking the program to its only Final Four in 75 years and more then 400 victories, before he was fired in 2015. By Jim Vertuno. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game starts 8 p.m.
FBN--49ERS-RAMS RIVALRY
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay arrived in California five years ago, a pair of hot-shot young coaches with a shared history and similar offenses taking over struggling franchises. McVay has had more overall success with the Los Angeles Rams than Shanahan has had with the San Francisco 49ers. But Shanahan has dominated the head-to-head rivalry, with the 49ers winning the last six meetings headed into the NFC title game that will send the winning coach to the Super Bowl for the second time. SENT: 850 words, photos. Also: FBN--Rams-Donald’s Pursuit (Sent).
FBN--BENGALS-'88 REMEMBERED
CINCINNATI — Ickey Woods is enjoying the revival of his iconic "Ickey Shuffle." Anthony Muñoz can't walk down the street without hearing shouts of “Who Dey!” The two alumni from the 1988 Bengals are among the Cincinnatians reveling in the 2021 team's advance to the AFC championship game. By Mitch Stacy. sent: 800 words, photos.
GLF--FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN
SAN DIEGO — Jason Day and Will Zalatoris are tied for the lead heading into the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open, one shot better than Jon Rahm and Aaron Rai. Day and Rahm have both won twice at Torrey Pines, while Zalatoris and Rai are seeking their first PGA Tour victories. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 9 p.m.
CAR--IMSA-DAYTONA-ROLEX 24
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Wayne Taylor Racing seeks a record fourth consecutive victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The forecast called for the coldest day in four years in Florida and drivers braced for abnormally low temperatures in the twice-round-the-clock endurance race that ends Sunday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. Will be updated throughout the race.
RAC--SANTA ANITA-BAFFERT
ARCADIA, Calif. — Embattled trainer Bob Baffert starts three-fifths of the field in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita. Qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby are at stake, although Baffert has been banned by Churchill Downs from entering the famed race he has won seven times. By Racing Writer Beth Harris. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Post time is 5:10 p.m.
RAC--PEGASUS WORLD CUP
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — Knicks Go races for the final time, the likely Horse of the Year for 2021 finishing his career as the probable favorite in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Post time expected around 5:45 p.m.
US--NEBRASKA-HERBIE HUSKER
LINCOLN, Neb. — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has made a change to its cartoon mascot Herbie Husker to eliminate confusion about the meaning of a hand gesture he makes that some people connect with white supremacy. SENT: 350 words, photo.
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Saturday Time Schedule
NBA
Boston at New Orleans, 6 p.m.
Indiana at Dallas, 7 p.m.
Sacramento at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto at Miami, 8 p.m.
Washington at Memphis, 8 p.m.
Brooklyn at Golden State, 8:30 p.m.
NHL
Anaheim at Ottawa, 12:30 p.m.
Los Angeles at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Winnipeg at St. Louis, 3 p.m.
San Jose at Florida, 6 p.m.
Edmonton at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Detroit, 7 p.m.
New Jersey at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Vegas at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
Buffalo at Arizona, 9 p.m.
Vancouver at Calgary, 10 p.m.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Top 25
Men
No. 1 Auburn vs. Oklahoma, 2 p.m.
No. 2 Gonzaga vs. Portland, 9 p.m.
No. 3 Arizona vs. Arizona St., 2:30 p.m.
No. 4 Baylor at Alabama, 4 p.m.
No. 5 Kansas vs. No. 12 Kentucky, 6 p.m.
No. 7 Houston at UCF, 8 p.m.
No. 7 UCLA vs. Stanford, 9:30 p.m.
No. 9 Duke vs. Louisville, Noon
No. 10 Michigan St. vs. Michigan, 12:30 p.m.
No. 13 Texas Tech vs. Mississippi St., 6 p.m.
No. 14 Villanova vs. St. John’s, 4:30 p.m.
No. 15 Southern Cal vs. California, 7 p.m.
No. 18 Tennessee at Texas, 8 p.m.
No. 19 LSU vs. TCU, Noon
No. 20 UConn at DePaul, 6:30 p.m.
No. 21 Xavier at Creighton, 2 p.m.
No. 23 Iowa St. vs. Missouri, 2 p.m.
No. 24 Illinois at Northwestern, 4:30 p.m.
No. 25 Davidson vs. La Salle, Noon
Women
No. 9 Texas at No. 18 Oklahoma, 3 p.m.
No. 11 Baylor at West Virginia, 2 p.m.
No. 13 Iowa St. at Texas Tech, 1:30 p.m.
No. 16 BYU vs. San Francisco, 4 p.m.
No. 25 Kansas St. vs. TCU, 7:30 p.m.
The Associated Press
