Minnesota Scene: Gophers women golfers miss NCAA championsnip cut by two shots

The season for the Gophers women's golf team came to an end Saturday when it finished tied for 11th in the NCAA Central Regional in Stillwater, Okla.

The Gophers shot 301 on the third day to finish with a 904.

The top eight teams in the 24-team field advanced to the NCAA tournament May 20-23 in Tulsa, Okla. UCLA won the regional with a 1-under 875. Florida was the last qualifier, tying for eighth at 902 and winning the tiebreaker over Oklahoma State.

Anna Laorr was the top individual for the Gophers, shooting a 76 on the third day for a 223, tying her for 22nd. Three shot behind her was teammate Carmen Laguna, whose closing 74 put her at 226, tying her for 32nd.

The Lynx, after beating Phoenix 72-64 on Friday, will play the Chicago Sky at noon Sunday in the championship game of a four-team WNBA preseason tournament in Orlando.

"I thought we did some good things," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said, referring to her team's first exhibition game. "We were aggressive; we shout 35 free throws.

"If you took at two halves, our starting five played the bulk of the minutes the first half; I thought they had a really good rhythm going. The group that is trying to make the team playing that second half — I thought there were good stops all around."

Tyler Johnson of the Tampa Bay Lightning got the game-winner.

"We're really happy with our effort tonight," said Peter Laviolette, the U.S. coach. "I think our guys did a terrific job of showing up in the second night of back-to-back games. They didn't quit and kept playing in the third period. It was a competitive game both ways, there was a great atmosphere in the building and those are the types of games you want to be in."

Smith and Johnson scored third-period goals to help the U.S. erase a 2-1 Switzerland advantage. Johnson's goal came with 6:45 left. American goalie Tim Thomas of the Dallas Stars made 27 saves.

• The St. Paul Saints, scoring four runs in the first inning, defeated the Metro Minny All-Stars 12-4 in an exhibition game on Saturday afternoon at Castle Field in Anoka. Saints reliever Rob Coe pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just a two-out double in the eighth. Devin Thaut led the Saints at the plate, going 2-4 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored.