For the second straight season, the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team is heading to the Final Four. And for the second straight year, they will be taking on the Stanford Cardinal for the right to play in the NCAA Championship game.

Maya Moore scored 25 points to help the Huskies to an 85-64 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils in front of 4,758 at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ.

The Huskies (37-0) will be looking to avenge last year’s loss to the Cardinal in the Final Four. The Sun Devils finish up the season at 26-9.

Moore, who was named the Trenton region’s most outstanding players, also had 9 rebounds and her 25 points gave her the record for most points in a season with 712 and counting. Renee Montgomery added 22 points and 4 assists while Tina Charles had 18 points and 13 rebounds. Kalana Greene rounded out the Huskies in double-digits with 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Danielle Orsillo paced the Sun Devils with 18 points. Briann January chipped in with 12 points and Sybil Dosty had 8 points and 5 rebounds.

The two teams exchanged baskets early on in the game before Charles led a 10-0 run with 8 points as she was just a force to be reckoned with in the paint. The Huskies then went into a little bit of lull as they had trouble taking care of the ball committing 5 turnovers in a span of just under 3 minutes that allowed the Sun Devils to get the lead down to 3 points at 16-13.

Arizona State got the lead down to 1 at 18-17 on a jumper from January. Montgomery picked up her third foul with 5:32 to go in the half and held a lead of 27-21 when she went to the bench.

If there was a time for the Sun Devils to make a comeback this was it but unfortunately they weren’t able to do that as the Huskies pushed the lead to 10 at 34-24 and took an 11 point lead into the locker room at 37-28 on the strength of a Greene layup with four seconds left.

The closest the Sun Devils would get to the Huskies was 8 points in the second half and the last time came on a Nia Fanaika three-pointer with 10:47 to go in the game. The Huskies then went on an 8-0 to put the game away.

Good win for the Huskies tonight but it definitely wasn’t pretty. They looked like they may have been playing too fast in the first half when they went through that bad stretch of turnovers. It was also nice to see them respond when Montgomery went to the bench with her third foul. Instead of sitting back, they kept it coming at the Sun Devils and were able to push their lead to 10 points.

Should be a great battle on Sunday in St. Louis with Stanford as they were the last team to hand the Huskies a loss.

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The Boston Red Sox closed out the home portion of their spring training schedule today with a come-from-behind 8-7 win over the 2008 American League Champs the Tampa Bay Rays.

Clay Buchholz finally showed that he was human this spring as he got roughed up in his final start. Buchholz went 5 1/3 innings, allowing 6 runs on 9 hits and a walk while striking out 4. He did allow 2 home runs. Justin Masterson followed him with 2 2/3 innings of work, giving up 1 run on 1 hit while striking out 3. Ramon Ramirez closed it out for the Red Sox allowing 1 hit and a walk in 9th.

Jason Varitek started the comeback with a 3-run homer, his fourth of the spring. Varitek finished with 2 hits on the afternoon. Nick Green’s 2-run double tied it up in the 8th and Angel Chavez knocked in Green with a single to win it for the Sox. Jason Bay and Dustin Pedroia has the other RBIs for the Red Sox.

It does look like Buchholz will be starting the season with the Pawtucket Red Sox unless Brad Penny isn’t ready to go on April 12th.

If I get sent down I’m just going to take as if it’s out of my power and they have their mind made up because I don’t think I could have pitched any better than I did pitch coming into spring training with all the expectations from last year. I think I did a pretty good job coming into this year. It’s going to be something to see, but whatever happens regardless I’ll still be playing ball and I’ll be up in the major leagues sooner or later.”

The Red Sox will head up I-75 tomorrow to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton. Josh Beckett will make his final spring start. Javier Lopez, Manny Delcarmen and closer Jonathan Papelbon are also scheduled to get some work in. There is no television coverage of the game and the only radio coverage will be on MLB.com as part of the MLB GameDay Audio Package.

Buchholz analyzes rough outing [Full Count]

Video: Mazz’s scouting report [Tony Mazz]

Breaking down the bullpen [Tony Mazz]

What’s next for Buchholz [Extra Bases]

David Ortiz determined to be a big hit without Manny Ramirez [Boston Herald]

Video: Hurlers reunite in Boston [NESN.com]

Video: Lugo expects to start upon return [NESN.com]

Youkilis on Dale & Holley [Full Count]

Lugo, Lowrie eye starting shortstop job [Eric Ortiz – NESN.com]

Red Sox set attendance record in Fort Myers [Providence Journal]

Lowell puts to rest concerns about whether he’ll be ready to start season [Providence Journal]

Rehabbing Lugo, Kotsay, Smoltz have different travel plans [Providence Journal]

Francona says that this has been smoothest spring yet [Providence Journal]

Prognosis good if Sox are healthy [Portland Press-Herald]

With just under 1½ hours until the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team takes on the Arizona State Sun Devils for the right to take on the Stanford Cardinal in the NCAA Final Four, let’s take a look at the links that have come across during the day today.

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Mongtomery, Moore Are First Team AP-All Americans [SOX & Dawgs]

ASU hopes bench presses No. 1 UConn [ESPN.com]

Obama Picks UConn Women To Win [Hartford Courant]

Maya Moore, Renee Montgomery make AP first team [UConn | Women’s Basketball]

Sure, Congressman, but what does Sen. McCain think about this? [UConn | Women’s Basketball]

Maria Conlon: Working for a living [UConn | Women’s Basketball]

PRE-GAME PRIMER [Elm City to Eagleville]

And here is the CBSSports.com Women’s All-America Team:

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Huskies guard Dyson will dress, won’t play; UConn may not even notice [Gang Green]

CBS’ Features For Final Four Weekend [Fang’s Bites]

Catching Up With UConn Before the Final Four [College Hoops Journal]

Prepping for the Final Four … UConn, Michigan State, North Carolina, Villanova [UConn | Men’s Basketball]

Tom Izzo on the Final Four, UConn [UConn | Men’s Basketball]

UConn Football links

Catching up with Steve Brouse [Rob Lunn – NESN.com]

Zac’s Got My Back [UConn | Football]

Other UConn related links

Hockey: Cristin Allen Named to New England Women’s Division I All-Star Team [UConnHuskies.com]

The honors continue to roll in for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball program as today the Associated Press announced it’s Women’s All-America Team.

Headlining the team is the only unanimous selection in Maya Moore. She’s joined on the First Team by her teammate Renee Montgomery, Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris, Louisville’s Angel McCoughtry and Maryland’s Kristi Toliver.

Paris is the first four-year First Team All-American in the history of the women’s game and both Moore and Paris are the only players to make it in their first two seasons.

It’s also the first time a team has put two players on the First Team since 2000 when UConn’s Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph did it. The Huskies also did it in 1996 with Kara Wolters and Jennifer Rizzotti.

UConn center Tina Charles is also an All-American as she was named to the Second Team.

Here are the 2009 Women’s AP All-America Teams:

First Team

• Maya Moore, UConn, So
• Renee Montgomery, UConn, Sr
• Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, Sr
• Angel McCoughtry, Louisville, Sr
• Kristi Toliver, Maryland, Sr.

Second Team

• DeWanna Bonner, Auburn, Sr
• Jayne Appel, Stanford, Jr
• Marissa Coleman, Maryland, Sr
• Jantel Lavender, Ohio State, So
• Tina Charles, UConn, Jr

Third Team

• Ashley Walker, California, Sr
• Shavonte Zellous, Pittsburgh, Sr
• Epiphanny Prince, Rutgers, Jr
• Chante Black, Duke, Sr
• Alysha Clark, Middle Tennessee State, Jr

We are just 6 days away from the start of the 2009 season for the Boston Red Sox when they will host the 2008 American League champs the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Something just doesn’t sound right about that and the Red Sox will be looking to call themselves World Series champs this season.

I know I’m getting excited about the season starting up.

In order to do that, skipper Terry Francona has started to make out his lineup to at least start the season. Right now it looks like Jacoby Ellsbury will leadoff, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew will follow him. After that, it will be either Jason Bay or Mike Lowell in the 6th spot with the other taking the 7th spot and Jason Varitek or Jed Lowrie in the 8th spot with the other taking the 9th spot.

“I think having the left-handed hitter [fifth] is somewhat useful,” Francona said. “For me, right now, J.D. is healthy, we have Mikey Lowell and Bay who we can hit sixth and seventh. In my opinion, neither one is a typical [No. 7] hitter, but somebody is going to have to. We’ll figure it out. We have a chance for a pretty balanced, good lineup.”

To me, the Red Sox lineup looks very balanced. Many pundits will say the Red Sox are lacking some power with Manny not in the lineup but with Youk behind Papi last year, the Red Sox enjoyed success and hopefully that continues this season. Plus with Youk, Drew, Bay and Lowell, you have guys who are capable of hitting at least 20 home runs this season.

Yesterday, the Red Sox headed up to Disney to take on the Atlanta Braves and came away with a 4-3 loss in 10 innings. But the real story of the day was how economical Daisuke Matsuzaka was in his first Grapefruit League start for the Red Sox this year.

Dice-K needed just 75 pitches to get through his 5 innings of work where he allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2. Rocco Baldelli knocked in 2 runs with a 2-run homer and Dustin Pedroia had the other RBI on a double.

Today, the Red Sox host those same Rays at 1:05 PM at City of Palms Park. Clay Buchholz is expected to make his final start of the spring campaign for the Red Sox. There is no television coverage and the only radio coverage can be found on MLB.com as part of their MLB Gameday Audio Package.

Drew to bat in five-hole for Red Sox [redsox.com]

Interest in Delcarmen? [Extra Bases]

Farrell, Sox content with Dice-K [Extra Bases]

Smoltz, Tiger and Che-Hsuan Lin [Clubhouse Insider]

Smoltz to take on Tiger [Full Count]

Rocco on Rocco [Full Count]

Farrell on Daisuke [Full Count]

Familiar surroundings for Smoltz [Full Count]

Red Sox downplay Papelbon’s rough spring [Providence Journal]

Baldelli getting back in groove for Red Sox [Providence Journal]

Reds’ minor leaguers tattoo Wakefield [Providence Journal]

You’d be wise to field this chance [Boston Globe]

Good economical indicators [Boston Globe]

Siding with Drew for 5-hole [Boston Globe]

Dice-K picking up pace [Boston Herald]

Clay Buchholz is one card you don’t deal [Boston Herald]

John Smoltz tags along [Boston Herald]

It’s game day for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team as they will take on the Arizona State Sun Devils for the right to play Stanford in the Final Four of the NCAA Women’s Tournament. Tip is scheduled for a little after 7 PM and the game will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPNHD. If you can’t get in front of the television, the game will be broadcast on WTIC-1080AM on your AM radio dial in the Connecticut area. You can also catch the game online at WTIC.com.

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Huskies Prepare for Regional Final [UConnHuskies.com]

marissa coleman needs a hug [Alysa Auriemma]

Geno Auriemma and Connecticut not taking success for granted on eve of Elite Eight meeting with Arizona State [The Star-Ledger]

Arizona State Confident in Its Approach to UConn Women [New York Times]

Huskies ready for a dogfight in regional final [Mansfield Today]

UConn’s Jersey Girl [Vickie Fulkerson – New London Day Blogs]

The St. Louis Cardinal(s) [UConn | Women’s Basketball]

Hail to the Chief – Not Geno, President Obama [UConn | Women’s Basketball]

Faris Ready For Spotlight [Rich Elliott – UConn women’s basketball]

Unbeaten UConn plays Arizona St. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Auriemma noticed Turner Thorne in NAU days [Arizona Republic]

ASU women praised for team unity [Arizona Republic]

UConn Women Playing For Final Four Berth [Hartford Courant]

UConn Freshmen Still Contribute [Hartford Courant]

Preview: UConn Vs. Arizona State [Hartford Courant]

Moore Needs Eight Points For Record [Hartford Courant]

Familiar Spot For ASU’s Dosty [Hartford Courant]

UConn women still await a real challenge [Waterbury Republican-American]

UConn women’s basketball notebook [Waterbury Republican-American]

Moore’s focus: wins, not record [New Haven Register]

Sometimes there’s no substitute for teamwork [New Haven Register]

Elite Eight Date [New Haven Register]

Arizona State in UConn’s way of Final 4 [Connecticut Post]

UConn women’s notebook [Connecticut Post]

UConn women’s game day [Connecticut Post]

Trenton Regional notebook [Connecticut Post]

UConn vs. Arizona State: Who has the edge? [Connecticut Post]

UConn vs. Arizona State: 5 important questions [Connecticut Post]

UConn in the Elite 8 [Connecticut Post]

Optimistic ASU Brings Intensity Into UConn Matchup [New London Day]

UConn Basketball Exploits Impressive [New London Day]

Moore on verge of breaking Wolters’ single-season points record [New London Day]

No. 1 UConn Vs. No. 6 Ariz. St. [New London Day]

Next up [Journal Inquirer]

Greene has a shot [Journal Inquirer]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Final Four tickets available Tuesday [Matt’s UConn Men’s Basketball blog]

Marshall’s Darius Smith commits to Connecticut [Chicago Tribune]

This UConn team took the hard road [Providence Journal]

Players [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Breaking Down Michigan State’s Roster [UConn Huskies Basketball]

UConn overcomes adversity to reach Final Four [Grand Rapids Press]

Which team will win the NCAA men’s national championship? [Baltimore Sun]

Price, UConn enjoying cathartic run [ESPN.com]

Michigan State’s Tom Izzo will lean on Big Ten coaches for UConn scouting report [MLive.com]

Dressed For The Occasion [Hartford Courant]

Final Four gives gloomy state of Michigan a lift [Waterbury Republican-American]

Thabeet forces Michigan State to adjust [Waterbury Republican-American]

This Final Four team bit different [Waterbury Republican-American]

Huskies land Chicago guard Smith [Norwich Bulletin]

Coaches are friends Four now [New Haven Register]

UConn’s new recruit unswayed by NCAA woes [New Haven Register]

Dyson remains key to UConn’s success [Connecticut Post]

Huskies Staying Low Key [New London Day]

Spartans’ Latest Final Four Trip A Special One [New London Day]

Chicago Guard Chooses Huskies [New London Day]

Road Warriors [Journal Inquirer]

Unfamiliarity breeds content [Journal Inquirer]

UConn Football links

UConn’s Frazer, Petrus Helping Hartford Kids [Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

Springer’s Slam Puts Baseball over Minutemen [UConnHuskies.com]

Lacrosse: Wallingford Acknowledged as BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week [UConnHuskies.com]

Softball: Burtner Home Run Helps Huskies To Split With Syracuse [UConnHuskies.com]

The First Game [Thoughts From a Fat White Guy]

Despite all the recruiting allegations surrounding the UConn Huskies men’s basketball program, they were able to grab another recruit.

Darius Smith, a 6’2″ combo guard out of Chicago, has given the Huskies an oral commitment to play for the team next season. He’ll join Alex Oriakhi, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel and Jamaal Trice as the newest members of the Huskies next season.

Smith is the rated the 23rd best shooting guard by scouts.com and is the 12th rated point guard by ESPN and was also named the city player of the year in Chicago.

He chose UConn over Arizona State, Cincinnati, and Marquette.

Smith: Huskies Are “We” Now [Emeka, Nadav and Corny]