Pacific Women Rout Willamette, 63-48

Laura Payne led Willamette in scoring with 11 points.

(FOREST GROVE) - Pacific University sank 19 of 25 free throws and limited Willamette University to just eight free throw attempts, as the Boxers defeated the Bearcats, 63-48, in a Northwest Conference game Friday night.

Pacific improved its overall record to 6-12, including 2-9 in the NWC.

Willamette, which made just 3 of 8 free throws, fell to 4-16 overall, 2-9 in the NWC.

Super Bowl Viewing Event Cancelled at Salem Public Library

(SALEM) - Salem Public Library has cancelled plans to show Super Bowl XLI in Loucks Auditorium on Sunday afternoon.

The library cancelled promptly after learning of National Football League rules that disallow "mass out-of-home viewing" of the Super Bowl if the image shown is to exceed 55 inches.

The NFL cites this as a violation of copyright laws.

Swarm Sting LumberJax, 11-8

The LumberJax are home again on Thursday as they host the Colorado Mammoth at Rose Garden at 7:00 PM.

(PORTLAND) - Minnesota Swarm goaltender Nick Patterson recorded 37 saves and allowed only eight goals as the Swarm beat the Portland LumberJax 11-8 on Friday at Rose Garden in Portland.

The loss is Portland's fourth straight as the club falls to 2-4.

Sean Pollock scored four goals for Minnesota as they captured their second win of the season, improving to 2-3.

Four Warriors Score in Double-Digits in Win Over Northwest

The Warriors also knocked home 4-for-6 (66.7%) from three-point range.

(SALEM) - Four Warrior starters finished with double-digit point totals led by junior Jessica Steigleman's team-high 16 points on 7-for-18 shooting from the field, as Corban's women's basketball team earned a season sweep of the Eagles of Northwest University, 58-51.

Despite falling behind early, the Warriors leached on to the offensive prowess of four starters as they fought their way back to defeat Northwest University for the seventh consecutive time and extend their winning streak to three games.

Women Wildcats Knock Off Pirates, 60-47

Linfield forced 20 first-half turnovers and held the Pirates to 2 for 19 shooting from beyond the 3-point line.

(SPOKANE, Wash.) - Guards Casey Stepan and Brihtani Lassiter keyed a solid all-around effort, leading the Linfield Wildcats to an uplifting 60-47 Northwest Conference victory over the Whitworth Pirates Friday night at Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The Wildcats won at the Fieldhouse for the first time in seven seasons. Linfield’s last win on the Pirates’ home floor was Jan. 15th, 2000, when Linfield carved out a 72-61 victory.

The win helped erase the bad memory of a 27-point home court blowout the Wildcats suffered last week at the hands of Pacific Lutheran.

Defense Stifles Missionaries as Bruins Tie For Top of NWC

Robin Taylor led all scorers with 15 points for the Bruins

(WALLA WALLA, Wash. ) - Displaying a stingy defense that forced 21 turnovers and held their opponent to barely 20% shooting, the George Fox University Bruins pulled back into a first-place tie in the Northwest Conference women’s basketball race with a 53-31 thumping of the Whitman College Missionaries Friday night at the Sherwood Center.

Completing a sweep of the home-and-home series with the Missionaries, George Fox improved to 13-5 overall and 9-2 in the conference, the same record as the idle University of Puget Sound.

Whitman saw its record even out at 10-10 overall while dipping to 5-6 in the NWC.

MLB News: Twins Sign Four; Including AL MVP Morneau

Morneau, Ford and Rincon agree to one-year deals; Punto agrees to two-year deal.

(MINNEAPOLIS ) - The Minnesota Twins announced Friday that they have agreed to terms with first baseman Justin Morneau, outfielder Lew Ford and righthanded pitcher Juan Rincon on one-year contracts for the 2007 season.

The Twins have also agreed to terms with third baseman Nick Punto on a two-year contract.

Morneau, 25, batted .321 (190-592) with 37 doubles, one triple, 34 home runs and 130 rbi in 157 games last season.

Ducks Downed by UC Davis, 33-9

Oregon will look to bounce back against Stanford, Friday at 5:00 PM.

(DAVIS, Calif.) - Three Ducks picked up victories in close matches, but Oregon fell 33-9 to the UC Davis Aggies Friday afternoon at The Pavilion.

Oregon now stands at 6-10 overall and 1-6 in the Pac-10, while the victory evens the Aggies' overall dual record at 5-5 while they remain perfect in the conference with a 4-0 record.

Sophomore Kyle Bounds got on the board first for the Ducks in the third match of the night at 157 lbs., registering a 3-2 decision over Vincent Durant.

Western Oregon Opens 2007 With 10-7 Win Over UC San Diego

Travis Coursey’s grand slam helps propel WOU to victory over the Tritons.

(SAN DIEGO, Calif.) - Travis Coursey belted a grand slam home run in the sixth inning and Coubi Jiles later drove in the winning run in the eighth as No. 10 nationally ranked Western Oregon opened its 2007 season with a 10-7 win over UC San Diego on Friday afternoon.

The game was the season opener for both squads.

Coursey’s blast gave the Wolves a 7-5 lead in the sixth, and Jiles’ double scored Boo Christenson with the eventual winning run in the eighth.