t 3-point attempt from the baseline as time ran out.Karima Christma

PHOENIX -- The NCAA Tournament has gone through some massive changes in recent years, the biggest being an expansion to 68 teams.Dont expect any more big changes anytime soon.Though there are annual quibbles about which teams should make the field, the format for one of the biggest spectacles in sports works and the NCAA has no interest in messing with it.Over the past many, many decades, the core is really solid, so its what can we do to enhance it without taking away from that core, Mark Hollis, chair of the NCAAs Division I mens basketball committee, said Monday.Because of the intricacies of the NCAA Tournament, I would challenge thats something you wouldnt want to touch. We live in a society where we want to change, improve everything, but the core of it is pretty good.The NCAA Tournament field expanded from 53 to 64 teams in 1985, a format that remained in place until a play-in game was added in 2001 and expanded the bracket to 65 teams.A big change came in 2011, when the NCAA Tournament expanded the field to 68 teams, with the last four to get into the tournament playing in the First Four.The larger field has helped increase the chances for upsets, which have come fast and furious over the past several seasons.The audience has expanded with the field; the 2015 NCAA Tournament was the most-watched in 22 years, averaging 11.3 million viewers.Is it (expansion) possible in the future? Sure, anythings possible, but I dont see that in the short term, said Dan Gavitt, NCAA vice president of mens basketball championships. The core of it and the thing that makes it so incredibly popular is whats protected by this committee, so by and large the traditions that make March Madness the way it is will stay.The NCAA has discussed moving the First Four from Dayton, Ohio, or at least expanding it to two sites, but has had a hard time justifying it.Since becoming the First Four site in 2011, Dayton has been a perfect host. The teams are selected on Sunday and the games are Tuesday night, but the city is always ready and the games usually sell out despite the short turnaround.Playing games at a second site would make it easier for teams in the West travel-wise, but it may come under the category of why fix whats not broken.Thats the X factor: If we you move it, consider another location, can they deliver that incredible college basketball feel and experience? Gavitt said. Its a risk because you dont know. Some of the other places where we have first and second rounds somewhat depend on what teams are playing there. Thats always going to be the trick when it comes to First Four.The NCAA is looking at changes to the regional rounds of the NCAA Tournament.The tournaments first weekend is exciting, the games spread across the country and upsets coming at every turn. The Final Four has its own vibe with a national championship on the line and so many other activities surrounding the games.The regional rounds determine which teams will play in the Final Four, but often dont get the hype of the tournaments first and third weekends.To enhance the regionals, the NCAA is looking at making those games more of a stand-alone event like the Final Four by adding concerts and fan experiences to go along with the games.Itll never approach the size and scope of the Final Four, but for those fans, those four teams in those three days are arguably as good as the Final Four the following weekend, depending on who the teams are, Gavitt said. So to make it a bigger and more exciting event for that locality would make it special.---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.orgMerril Hoge Womens Jersey . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. Jack Ham Jersey . 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The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2.SEATTLE -- Breanna Stewart had 20 points and eight rebounds to help the Seattle Storm secure a playoff spot with a 78-60 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday night.The Storm led 49-27 at halftime behind double-digit scoring by Stewart, Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd. Eighth-ranked Seattle started the second half on a 7-2 run, capped by Stewarts 3-pointer, to extend its lead to 27 points and the Storm cruised to their first playoff berth since 2013.Los Angeles, which already had a double-bye in the playoffs, rested starters Nneka Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver.Crystal Langhorne added 15 points and 10 rebounds as all five starters scored in double figures for Seattle (15-17). Alysha Clark scored 15 points, Bird had 12 points and Loyd added 10 for the Storm, who won their fourth straight. Seattle was 18 of 18 from the free-throw line.Candace Parker had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Chelsea Gray, making her first career start, added 13 points for Los Angeles (24-8). The second-ranked Sparks lost their third game in a row for the first time this season.MERCURY 86, DREAM 75PHOENIX -- Brittney Griner had 21 points, nine rebounds and five blocks to help the Mercury beat the Dream.The Mercury need either one more victory or a loss by Washington to clinch a postseason berth.Phoenix (14-17), ranked No. 6 in the AP power poll, never trailed and took control during the second quarter with an 18-0 run that made it 47-29 with 1:25 left in the half.Fifth-ranked Atlanta (16-15) got back to 53-46, but the Mercury rebuilt their lead to 18 at 72-54 and went unchallenged through the fourth quarter.Tiffany Hayes had 22 points and Bria Holmes added 14 for the Dream, who fell into a three-way tie for fourth place with Indiana and Chicago.LYNX 81, STARS 76SAN ANTONIO -- Seimone Augustus scored 20, Maya Moore had 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and the Lynx beat the Stars.Augustus put the Lynx ahead for good with 45 seconds left on a jumper from the right wing and made both free throws to extend the lead to 79-76 with 23.2 seconds left.Minnesota clinched homecourt throughout the playoffs with Los Angeles losss to Seattle later Sunday.ddddddddddddRebekkah Brunson iced it with two more free throws at 10.8 seconds and the top-ranked Lynx (26-5) won their fifth straight and 11th of the last 12. Brunson finished with eight points and 11 rebounds for the top-ranked Lynx.The last-place Stars (6-25) never trailed by more than 10 but took their first lead of the game at 73-71 with 4:58 left when Moriah Jeffersons layup capped an 11-0 run.Jefferson had 26 points and eight rebounds, Monique Currie scored 18 and Astou Ndour added 14 for the Stars.WINGS 84, LIBERTY 81ARLINGTON, Texas -- Skylar Diggins driving layup gave Dallas a four-point lead with 14.9 seconds left and the Wings held on to beat the Liberty.Sugar Rodgers hit a deep 3 with 5.6 seconds left that pulled the Liberty back within one. Diggins then made both free throws and Rodgers missed a difficult 3-point attempt from the baseline as time ran out.Karima Christmas had 23 points, Aerial Powers added 15 and Courtney Paris scored 13 for 11th-ranked Dallas (11-21).Tina Charles had 29 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks for third-ranked New York (21-11). Rodgers scored 15 and Carolyn Swords added 14.FEVER 80, MYSTICS 73WASHINGTON -- Erica Wheeler scored nine of her 17 points in the final 2:17 to help the Fever pull away from the Mystics and clinch a playoff berth.Wheelers 3-pointer with 2:17 left gave the Fever (16-15) the lead for good at 72-69 and sparked an 11-4 run in which she made all six free-throw attempts to secure the victory. Indiana is currently in the fifth playoff spot, holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Chicago Sky (16-15).Lynetta Kizer added 17 points, Briann January had 15 and Shenise Johnson scored 12 for the seventh-ranked Fever.Emma Meesseman had 19 points, Tayler Hill scored 15 and Kia Vaughn added 12 for the No. 10 Mystics (12-19), who are one spot out of the playoffs.Washington led by seven early in the third quarter before the Fever scored 10 straight and it went back-and-forth from there. ' ' '