Weekday Morning Sports – Monday 1/23/17

sportsreport-156
sportsreport-156

95.7 & 1400 WSJM Sports     @wsjmsports     wsjmsports.com     Monday, January 23, 2017

NFL – NFL Playoffs – Conference Championship Weekend
Yesterday
NFC: Atlanta Falcons 44, Green Bay Packers 21
AFC: New England Patriots 36, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

Falcons 44, Packers 21 – Falcons trounce Packers
Matt Ryan threw for 392 yards and four touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons hammered the Green Bay Packers, 44-21 to win the NFC championship and advance to Super Bowl 51. Julio Jones had nine receptions for 180 yards and two TDs, including a 73-yard grab-and-run that put the Falcons up 31-0 on their second offensive play of the second half. Atlanta blanked the Packers until Aaron Rodgers hit Davante Adams for a two-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Patriots 36, Steelers 17 – Patriots rip Steelers
The New England Patriots have earned their NFL-record ninth berth in the Super Bowl by slamming the Pittsburgh Steelers, 36-17 in the AFC championship game. Tom Brady was 32 of 42 for 384 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, hitting Chris Hogan for touchdown throws of 16 and 34 yards before Julian Edelman’s 10-yard scoring grab put New England ahead 33-9 late in the third quarter. Pittsburgh finished the game without running back Le’Veon Bell, who suffered a groin injury late in the first quarter.

NHL – National Hockey League
Yesterday
New York Rangers 1, Detroit Red Wings 0 (OT)
Chicago Blackhawks 4, Vancouver Canucks 2

Rangers 1, Red Wings 0 (OT) – Miller’s goal gives Rangers 1-0 win over Detroit in OT
J.T. Miller scored at 1:56 of overtime to lift the New York Rangers to a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Henrik Lundqvist made 21 saves for his second shutout of the season and 61st of his career. The Rangers managed only 19 shots in a game that featured few memorable chances by either team. The winner came when Mats Zuccarello and Miller swooped in alone on Detroit goalie Jared Coreau. Zuccarello made a simple pass to Miller, who lifted the puck over Coreau for his 16th goal of the season. Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall played for the first time since Jan. 4, returning from a lower-body injury. The Red Wings put forward Drew Miller on waivers.

Blackhawks 4, Canucks 2 – Toews’ late goal leads Blackhawks past Canucks.
Jonathan Toews scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:18 remaining and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Sunday night for their third straight victory. Toews, who also had three assists, connected from the left circle after Richard Panik’s shot from right wing went wide and caromed off the back boards. Toews fired before Canucks goalie Ryan Miller could move across the crease. Panik had a goal and an assist and Patrick Kane also scored for the Blackhawks, who have won seven of their last nine. Marian Hossa added an empty-netter with 24 seconds left for his 18th goal and 400th point with Chicago. Corey Crawford made 26 saves to earn his 200th win.  Troy Stecher and Bo Horvat scored 46 second apart early in the third period to tie it for Vancouver. Miller stopped 31 shots as the Canucks lost in regulation for just the second
time in their last 13.

MLB – One current, one former major league die in car accidents
The Major League Baseball community is mourning the deaths of Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura and former big league infielder Andy Marte in separate traffic accidents in their native Dominican Republic. A highway patrol spokesman said Ventura died about 40 miles from Santo Domingo, adding that it was not clear if Ventura was driving. Marte died when the Mercedes Benz he was driving hit a house along a road about 95 miles from the capital. Ventura was 11-12 with a 4.45 ERA in 32 starts for the 2016 Royals at age 25. He was 38-31 with a 3.89 ERA in four major league seasons with Kansas City, helping the team win two pennants and the 2015 World Series. Marte spent most of his seven-year major league career with the Indians before playing in Korea the last two seasons. Marte was 33.

NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight
Sacramento Kings at Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m.
New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers, 8:00 p.m.

NCAAWBB – Women’s College Basketball
Yesterday
Michigan 84, Nebraska 51
Purdue 76, Michigan State 66
(6) Notre Dame 77, North Carolina 55

Michigan 84, Nebraska 51
Michigan’s Katelyn Flaherty had 27 points on 11 of 16 shooting helping lead Michigan to an 84-51 win at Nebraska.   Michigan’s defense limited Nebraska to just 6 points in the final quarter.  Nicole Munger had a season-high 18 points for Michigan while Hallie Thome had 15 points, and Benton Harbor’s Kysre Gondrezick scored 13 points.  Mattawan native Allie Havers led the Cornhuskers with 10 points.

Purdue 76, Michigan State 66
Ashley Morrissette led all scorers with 31 points for Purdue in a 76-66 win at Michigan State.  Dominique McBryde added 10 for the Boilermakers who improve to 13-8 and 4-3 in the Big Ten.  Tori Jankoska had 16 points for the Spartans, who have now lost 3 straight.   Jankoska became the first Michigan State women’s player to score over 1,900 points in her career.    Michigan State falls to 13-7 and 3-4 in the Big Ten.   Michigan is now 16-5 and 5-2 in the Big Ten.

#6 Notre Dame 77, North Carolina 55
Brianna Turner had 24 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks to help the Fighting Irish beat the Tar Heels 77-55 on Sunday, a win that gave McGraw her 750th victory at the school. Marina Mabrey added 13 points for the Fighting Irish (18-3, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who blew open a close game in the second quarter and improved to 53-2 in ACC regular-season games since joining the league for the 2013-14 season.  Turner finished 11-for-16 from the floor.

Tennis – Australian Open – Serena advances
Serena Williams is three match victories away from her 23rd Grand Slam singles title. The second-seeded Williams has reached the Australian Open quarterfinals by beating No. 16 Barbora Strycova, 7-5, 6-4. The six-time Australian Open champ had 23 unforced errors in the first set and needed eight set points to clinch it. Williams’ prevailed one day after top seed Angelique Kerber was beaten in the fourth round. Next up for Williams is ninth seed Johanna Konta, who rolled to a 6-1, 6-4 rout of Ekaterina Makarova.

AHL – American Hockey League
Yesterday
Chicago Wolves 5, Milwaukee Admirals 1

ECHL – East Coast Hockey League
Yesterday
Kalamazoo Wings 5, Toledo Walleye 4

MHSAA – High School Sports
Yesterday
Ice Hockey
Bowling Green 6, Lakeshore/St. Joseph 2

Tonight
Boys Basketball
Lake Mich. Catholic at Cassopolis, 7:30 p.m.  WSJM-AM
Buchanan at South Haven, 7:15 p.m.     WCSY-FM
Three Rivers at Battle Creek Harper Creek, 7:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix at Gull Lake, 7:15 p.m.

Girls Basketball
Dream Academy at Cassopolis, 6:00 p.m.
Comstock at Buchanan 7:30 p.m.
Colon at White Pigeon, 7:30 p.m.
Battle Creek Harper Creek at Three Rivers, 7:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix at Gull Lake, 5:45 p.m.