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Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

UNDATED (AP) — Staging the women’s NCAA Tournament in one place has led Iowa coach Lisa Bluder to ponder if a permanent neutral site is the way to go for the sport. Coronavirus concerns and precautions have led to the entire women’s tournament to be played this month around the San Antonio area. Bluder saw how the previous format of on-campus games worked for her program but acknowledged it gave her a team a competitive advantage. She believes the neutral site idea is working this year, but Baylor coach Kim Mulkey and UConn’s Geno Auriemma remember the days of little to no crowds and aren’t so sure a permanent change is the best opion.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Former St. Louis Blues defenseman Bob Plager was killed Wednesday in a car crash in St. Louis. He was 78. Police said Plager was alone in his vehicle when it collided with a vehicle carrying two women on Interstate 64 in St. Louis about 1:30 p.m. One of the women sustained minor injuries. Plager was an original Blue, moving over from the New York Rangers when the NHL expanded in 1967-68. He played 11 seasons for St. Louis — teaming for a stretch with brothers Barclay and Bill. He worked for the organization in a variety of roles, coaching for 11 games in 1992. The Blues retired his No. 5 jersey in 2017, and it joined brother Barclay’s No. 8 in the rafters.

(By GARY B. GRAVES AP Sports Writer) – Staging the women’s NCAA Tournament in one place has led Iowa coach Lisa Bluder to ponder if a permanent neutral site is the way to go for the sport. Coronavirus concerns and precautions have led to the entire women’s tournament to be played this month around the San Antonio area.

Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder gives instruction to Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22), during the second half of a college basketball game in the second round of the women’s NCAA tournament at the Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Iowa defeated Kentucky 86-72. (AP Photo/Ronald Cortes)

Bluder saw how the previous format of on-campus games worked for her program but acknowledged it gave her a team a competitive advantage. She believes the neutral site idea is working this year, but Baylor coach Kim Mulkey and UConn’s Geno Auriemma remember the days of little to no crowds and aren’t so sure a permanent change is the best opion.

The Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team will play in the Division II Final Four tonight after a big win on Wednesday over West Liberty. The Bearcats took down the Hilltoppers 98-77 at the Ford Center in Evansville.

Atlantic native Ryan Hawkins had a monster night with 32 points on 11 of 14 shooting and 6 of 8 from three point range. He also pulled down six rebounds in the win and Trevor Hudgins finished with 23 points and five assists.

The Bearcats improved to 26-2 on the year and will now take on the Flagler College Saints (18-2) in the Semifinals tonight. The Saints advanced with a dramatic 70-69 win over Truman State on a pair of free throws from Chris Metzger with 10 seconds left. The Saints will be participating in their first Final Four in school history.

The Bearcats and Saints will be the second game of the night with an 8:45 p.m. CT tipoff. Top seed West Texas A&M will take on the 4-seed Lincoln Memorial in the other Semifinal at 6:00 p.m. CT. Both games are played at the Ford Center in Evansville, IN and both will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Season ticket holders from the 2020 season and fans that ordered block tickets will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets for University of Iowa baseball home games for the 2021 season, it was announced Thursday by the Iowa Athletic Ticket Office.

Tickets for those parties will go on sale on Friday, March 26 at 9 a.m. (CT).  Single game tickets are $7 adults and $3 for youth (age 6-18), and 5-and-under are free.  Ticket holders should login to existing season ticket holder account for pre-sale access online, but can also order by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS.

Seating in Duane Banks Field will be all general admission, and everyone must have a ticket, including free admissions.  All tickets will be mobile and capacity will be just over 1,100.

Following the sale to season ticket holders, if any tickets remain, they will be made available to the general public, beginning Friday, April 2 at 9 a.m.

Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance.  There will be no game day sales at the gate.  Fans will be directed to the website and tickets will be delivered electronically (if available).

Iowa has four home series remaining, beginning April 9-11 against Minnesota.  The Hawkeyes will also host Maryland and Northwestern (April 23-26), Penn State (May 7-9) and Illinois (May 14-16) this season.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa freshman Caitlin Clark has been named a WBCA All-Region honoree, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced Wednesday.

The WBCA selection committee will select the 10-member WBCA Division I Coaches’ All-America team from the list of 52 All-Region honorees, which will be announced on April 3.

The All-American is the 16th Hawkeye in program history to earn WBCA All-Region honors. It is the fourth consecutive season that a Hawkeye has earned the honor. Megan Gustafson was named to the WBCA All-Region team in 2018 and 2019, and Kathleen Doyle was named to the team in 2020.

Clark, a native of West Des Moines, Iowa, leads the country in points per game (26.8), ranks second in assists per game (7.2) and 3-pointers per game (3.86), 29th in free-throw percentage (86.0), and 34th in 3-point percentage (40.9).

Clark and the Hawkeyes continue their 2021 NCAA Tournament run on Saturday against UConn. Tipoff is set for noon (CT) on ABC. We’ll have coverage on KJAN with pregame at 11:45 a.m.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – – The University of Iowa Athletics Department announced Thursday that it will allow limited fan attendance at outdoor athletic events for the remainder of the spring seasons, effective immediately.

The Big Ten Conference announced Wednesday that attendance policies for all regular season competitions will follow local health guidelines and restrictions. That decision was made jointly by the Big Ten Conference Directors of Athletics and the Council of Presidents and Chancellors in consultation with university medical experts and the conference office.

Iowa will allow 50 percent capacity at outdoor venues for events but will continue to restrict attendance at indoor events. Fans attending events will be required to wear face coverings upon entry in accordance with UI policy. Hand sanitizers will be available throughout the facilities. Capacity limitations will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as local conditions improve.

Hawkeye home outdoor events this weekend include women’s soccer on Thursday (Penn State, 4 p.m.) and Sunday (Purdue, 1 p.m.). Iowa’s second-ranked field hockey team hosts Michigan State on Friday (4 p.m.) and Sunday (noon). The women’s tennis hosts Nebraska on Sunday (11 a.m.).

Soccer, field hockey and tennis regular season outdoor events are not ticketed. The events will be open to the public, with capacity being monitored at Christine Grant Field, the Iowa Soccer Complex and the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex.

Baseball events at Duane Banks Field and softball games at Bob Pearl Field are ticketed events. Previous season ticket holders will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets for home events for these sports. The Iowa Athletics Ticket Office will be reaching out to previous year season ticket holders with additional information.

The Iowa football team begins spring practice Tuesday, March 30. Potential spring events in Kinnick Stadium are under consideration at this time.

Athletics department and Big Ten Conference testing protocols for all student-athletes and staff remain in place. Fans will be required to maintain social distancing at all times.

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SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Jordan Nixon banked in a short jump shot at the buzzer in overtime, giving her a career-high 35 points and lifting Texas A&M to an 84-82 victory over Iowa State in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Iowa State guard Madison Wise (1) walks off the court as Texas A&M players celebrate after a college basketball game in the second round of the women’s NCAA tournament at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. Texas A&M won 84-82. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Nixon scored seven of A&M’s nine points in OT, pushing the Aggies into the Sweet 16 for the third straight time. She also led the rally in the fourth quarter, scoring the last four points of regulation.

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Jordan Nixon banked in a short jump shot at the buzzer in overtime, giving her a career-high 35 points and lifting Texas A&M to an 84-82 victory over Iowa State in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament. Nixon scored seven of A&M’s nine points in OT, pushing the Aggies into the Sweet 16 for the third straight time. She also led the rally in the fourth quarter, scoring the last four points of regulation.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Missouri State is going to its second Sweet 16 in a row in the women’s NCAA Tournament. Elle Ruffridge had 20 points with five 3-pointers and Jasmine Franklin had a double-double as the Lady Bears knocked off Wright State 64-39 in a matchup of mid-major teams. The Lady Bears now advance to play Stanford, the No. 1 overall seed in this NCAA Tournament. That is the same matchup as in the Sweet 16 two years ago. Angel Baker and Shamarre Hale each had 10 points for the 13th-seeded Raiders.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Big Ten Conference is having a major impact at the women’s NCAA Tournament with four teams in the Sweet 16. Indiana, Iowa, Maryland and Michigan have all advanced after the league only had four qualifiers total reach the round of the 16 in the previous four tournaments. Iowa’s next game is against top seed UConn, which got a boost when coach Geno Auriemma returned to the team after quarantining from a positive COVID-19 test. Auriemma missed his team’s first two games, but was greeted with cheers and hugs from his players.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — There aren’t two bigger stars in the women’s NCAA Tournament this year than Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark. It’s almost as if the freshmen are playing a personal game of horse on the national stage. After one delivers a highlight-filled performance, the other delivers a top-this moment. In one of the most anticipated matchups, they’ll meet for the first time in their college careers in the Sweet 16 on Saturday with Bueckers leading UConn against Clark and her Iowa teammates. ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo says the game will be entertaining for all basketball fans and that “we need Iowa and UConn to play each other the next three years!”

UNDATED (AP) — Kansas State and athletic director Gene Taylor have agreed to a contract extension. It includes a significant jump in base salary to $925,000 per year through June 2027. The 63-year-old Taylor was nearing the end of a five-year deal he signed in 2017. That contract paid him $450,000 the first year with $50,000 increases each of the next four. He had agreed to a 13% paycut last year to help with budget problems caused by the pandemic.