Sports Digest: PNC edges Purdue Calumet men

Pro tennis

AZARENKA WINS AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Victoria Azarenka beat Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-0 Saturday to win the Australian Open and take over the women's No. 1 ranking.

Azarenka, playing in her first final in 25 Grand Slam tournaments, was broken in the opening game of the match by Sharapova and trailed 2-0 before taking advantage of 16 unforced errors by Sharapova to win the first set in 46 minutes.

The 22-year-old Belarusian broke Sharapova's service to open the second set and never looked threatened as she clinched the title in 1 hour, 22 minutes.

The winner of the match had the added bonus of taking over the top ranking vacated by Caroline Wozniacki when she lost in the quarterfinals.

Men's basketball

PNC EDGES PURDUE CALUMET: Nick Neal scored a game-high 26 points, and his layup with 10 seconds remaining gave Purdue North Central a 76-75 win over Purdue Calumet in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday. Alphonse Futch added 15 for the Panthers (5-18, 4-5), while Nick Lafty (Hobart) had 12 and Kyle Sanders 11.

Andrew Anderson (Merrillville) led the Peregrines (6-17, 3-6) with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Alex Richman scored 18 points, while Noah Allen chipped in 14.

PUMAS FALL TO LEWIS: Lewis hit 13 3-pointers, and St. Joseph's College fell 86-64 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game.

Dayvon Sloan led St. Joseph's (7-12, 2-9) with 16 points. Damon Ellison Jr. added 10 points.

OAKTON TOPS PRAIRIE STATE: Chris Lockhart scored 19 points; Brandon Williams (Bloom Trail) had 15, but Prairie State College fell to Oakton Community College 69-62 in Skyway Conference action.

Prairie State fell to 10-12 overall and 2-5 in the conference.

Women's basketball

PUMAS GROUND FLYERS: Britney Cruse (Merrillville) led the way with 23 points as St. Joseph's College beat Lewis 87-82 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game on Saturday.

Freshman Breanna Birmingham had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Pumas (12-7, 6-5) hit some clutch baskets down the stretch and were 9-of-10 from the free-throw line in the final 1 minute, 13 seconds.

Jen Szala (Marian Catholic) hit back-to-back 3-pointers to halt a Lewis run late in the second half.

CAL COLLEGE HOLDS ON FOR FIRST CCAC WIN: Rebecca Arredondo poured in 27 points, including four 3-pointers, and Jennifer Walton posted 23 points as Calumet College topped Trinity International 82-78 for its first CCAC win.

The Crimson Wave (4-20, 1-7) gave up an 11-point lead hindered by poor free-throw shooting (19-of-36) but put together a late 10-0 run to regain control. Moneva Fields (Thornton) registered 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Walton also dished out eight assists.

PRAIRIE STATE ROLLS PAST OAKTON: Danielle Zandstra (Heritage Christian) had 19 points and nine rebounds to lead Prairie State College to a 52-30 Skyway Conference win over Oakton Community College.

Gia Ezell (T.F. North) had six points, eight rebounds and four steals for the Pioneers (19-4, 6-1).

Women's bowling

VU THIRD AT KUTZTOWN INVITATIONAL: Top-ranked Valparaiso University went 5-1 for the second consecutive day at the Kutztown Invitational in Reading, Pa., and sits in third place with 10,444 total pins entering today's final round. Amanda Cortese had the team's best game Saturday with a 242 in the Crusaders' 959-908 win over No. 14 Monmouth.

Men's swimming

VU PICKS UP FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON: Kyle Braun and Trevor Trimpe each won two individual events as host Valparaiso University defeated Monmouth (Ill.) 57-36 for the team's first victory of the season. Braun won the 50-meter free and 100 free, while Trimpe was first in the 400 IM and 100 breast.

Women's swimming

VU GAINS SPLIT AT HOME MEET: Host Valparaiso University gained a split with a 63-40 win over Monmouth (Ill.). Butler defeated the Crusaders 56-39. The Crusaders' Flavia Segatto won the 100 fly and 500 free, while teammate Natalie Jarrett won the 400 IM and 100 breast.

Around the horn

Kyle Stanley overpowered Torrey Pines and opened a five-shot lead Saturday in the Farmers Insurance Open. Stanley missed a 4-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have set the 54-hole tournament record. He settled for a 4-under 68, a spot in the record book with Tiger Woods, and great position as he goes after his first PGA Tour win today. ... Marcus Damas scored 18 points and Towson ended its NCAA record 41-game losing streak with a 66-61 victory over North Carolina Wilmington on Saturday.