IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The No. 19 Iowa women’s basketball team enters its home game against Ohio State on Thursday night riding a 30-game home win streak. That’s second-longest in Division I behind Baylor’s 49 consecutive home wins. Hawkeyes coach Lisa Bluder grew up in Iowa and understands the state’s passion for the sport.

In-state rival Iowa State draws 9,500 fans per game in Ames to rank third in the nation. Iowa is 11th in attendance at more than 5,900. Last season, when the Hawkeyes made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, they averaged almost 6,800. Bluder said her team’s winning ways have fueled attendance.

ST. LOUIS, MO., January 22, 2020­ – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have agreed to terms with free-agent catcher Matt Wieters (pronounced WEE-ters) on a one-year contract for the upcoming 2020 season.

Wieters, 33, returns to the Cardinals for a second-straight season.   He signed with St. Louis on February 27 last year as a non-roster invitee, and was a key member of the Redbirds’ N.L. Central Division-winning club, appearing in 67 games (54 starts).

The 6-5, 235-pound Wieters hit 11 home runs last season, his most since 2016, and threw out 8 of 19 (42 pct.)  attempted base-stealers.  Wieters owns a career .250 batting mark with 146 HR’s and 546 RBI in 1,148 games played and he begins 2020 just 11 hits shy of 1,000 for his career.   His 146 career home runs rank 6th all-time among switch-hitting catchers.

Before joining St. Louis last season, Wieters had played two seasons (2017-18) with the Washington Nationals after an eight-year stint in Baltimore where he was named an American League All-Star four times (2011-12, 2014 & 2016).

A former first round (5th player overall) draft selection of the Baltimore Orioles in 2007 out of Georgia Tech University, Wieters was a Rawlings Gold Glove recipient in both 2011 and 2012.

Wieters addition puts the Cardinals 40-man Major League roster at a full 40.

(By The Associated Press) –  Iowa athletic director Gary Barta has been chosen as the new chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee. Barta was appointed to the selection committee in January 2019 and will replace Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens as chairman. Three new members of the selection committee were also appointed for three-year terms. They are former Penn State offensive lineman John Urschel, Wyoming athletic director Tom Burman and Colorado AD Rick George. Besides Mullens, also cycling off the committee are former Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer and Robert Morris University President Chris Howard, a former football player at Air Force.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell announced today that Mick McCall, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northwestern the past 12 seasons, was added to the Cyclone coaching staff to coach the running backs.

McCall, who has 41 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 13 seasons as an offensive coordinator at the FBS level, will reunite with Campbell. The duo were on the same staff at Bowling Green from 2003-04 and 2007.

“Mick will be a wonderful addition to our coaching staff,” Campbell said. “Mick has had an outstanding career in coaching and his vast experience and knowledge of the game will certainly give our offensive staff room an added boost. Mick was one of my mentors when I began my career in the coaching profession and I have no doubt he will be a great fit for Iowa State football.”

McCall joined the Northwestern coaching staff as the director of the offense and quarterbacks coach in 2008, helping the Wildcats go 89-67 and record three 10-win seasons (2012, 2015, 2017). NU qualified for nine bowl games, winning four, and claimed its first-ever Big Ten West title in 2018.

Northwestern boasted a number of quality quarterbacks under McCall’s guidance, including Clayton Thorson, Trevor Siemian, Kain Colter, Mike Kafka and Dan Persa.

Thorson, a three-time All-Big Ten performer, graduated in 2018 as the program’s career leader in passing yards (10,731), completions (991) and passing touchdowns (61). Siemian ended his NU career fourth in passing yardage (5,931) and completions (550) before forging a successful NFL career. He was the Denver Broncos starting quarterback in 2016 and 2017.

Northwestern offenses were effective in the running game and passing game during his tenure. One of his best weapons was Justin Jackson, who was a four-time All-Big Ten honoree from 2014-17. Jackson is NU’s career leader in carries (1,142), rushing yards (5,440) and rushing touchdowns (41). He also utilized wide receiver Austin Carr, who became just the third player since 1990 to lead the Big Ten in receptions (90), receiving yards (1,247) and touchdowns (12) in 2016. Carr and Jackson were the only duo in the nation to lead a conference in both receiving yards and rushing yards.

In 2012, McCall served as the architect to one most unique offensive systems in the country with Colter and Siemian. Colter started 12 games and rushed for 894 yards and a team-best 12 touchdowns. Siemian threw for 1,312 yards and six touchdowns.

In 2009, McCall directed the conference’s top passing attack (286.5 ypg). In the Outback Bowl, McCall’s offense broke 21 bowl records, compiling 625 total yards during a dramatic 38-35 overtime loss to Auburn. Kafka’s 47 completions, 78 passing attempts and the Wildcats 115 total offensive plays were both NCAA bowl and NCAA FBS records.

McCall was the offensive coordinator at Bowling Green in 2007, directing the Falcons’ spread offense, which averaged 402.5 yards per game. Prior to 2007, McCall spent four years as BGSU’s quarterbacks coach, mentoring All-Americans Josh Harris (2003) and Omar Jacobs (2004). In 2004, Jacobs set an NCAA record by throwing a nation best and MAC-record 41 TD passes with just four interceptions, the best TD/interception ratio in the history of college football.

McCall began coaching in 1979 at his alma mater, Southern Colorado, as the quarterbacks and running backs coach. He had coaching stints at Idaho State, Oregon State and Wyoming. Among the more notable players McCall has coached is former Idaho State running back Merril Hoge. Hoge went on to star for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL from 1987-93.

Prior to his coaching career, McCall was a quarterback at Southern Colorado in Pueblo, Colo., from 1975-78 where he was a two-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference performer and lettered in basketball. He was invited to participate in the training camp of the NFL’s Detroit Lions following his college playing career.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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(Radio Iowa) — Legislators in the Iowa House AND Senate are discussing steps that would let Iowa college athletes earn money if their name or likeness is used for profit. Senators Nate Boulton, a Democrat from Des Moines, and Republican Brad Zaun of Urbandale have been talking about establishing trust funds for student athletes’ compensation. Boulton says Division One college football has become the minor league for the N-F-L.

“There’s a general consensus that the power imbalance is unsustainable right now with the amount of money that’s going into college athletics and the inability to see anything other than facilities and coaching salaries be the outlet for that,” Boulton says.

Now that sports betting is legal in Iowa, Boulton says gamblers are profiting off college athletes, too.  “There’s money all around this system and on an island, without any resources coming to them, are the student athletes who are putting their bodies on the line,” Boulton says.

Representatives Ras Smith, a Democrat from Waterloo, and Republican Joe Mitchell of Wayland met last month with former University of Iowa star Marvin McNutt to discuss how trust funds might work — so the compensation comes after the student athlete’s college career is over.  “Me and Representative Smith have both said that we think that these guys should have the rights to the fruits of their own labor,” Mitchell says. “A lot of these guys aren’t going to play pro, but they would be able to make some money in college.”

Mitchell says playing a sport like football at the Division One level is essentially job.  “If we’re going to go to have these guys go out there and play and make money for the universities and if the coaches can make money off endorsements, but the players can’t — who are really the ones that people come to watch — that’s where I see the problem with it,” Mitchell says.

Mitchell says this is a sensitive issue, but if legislators can come up with a bipartisan consensus, the Iowa law could be a model for other states and even the N-C-Double-A.

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

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Solomon Young scored a career-high 27 points off the bench, Rasir Bolton added 21 points and nine rebounds and Iowa State beat Oklahoma State 89-82. Young, a 6-foot-8 senior who started the first 14 games of the season, gave the Cyclones a much-needed energy boost and also grabbed nine rebounds as the Cowboys remained winless in conference play. The Cyclones, who made of 11 of 24 3-point attempts, led 75-60 with five minutes left and held off a late Cowboys’ charge by hitting four straight free throws in the closing moments. Lindy Waters led Oklahoma State with 14 points.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Brad Davison scored 14 points, D’Mitrik Trice added 11 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and Wisconsin used a big second half to power past Nebraska 82-68. After leading 39-38 at halftime, the Badgers opened the second half on a 20-4 run to hand the Cornhuskers their fourth straight loss. Davison sparked the surge by knocking down back-to-back 3s out of the locker room. Dachon Burke Jr. had a game-high 20 points and Kevin Cross scored 17 off the bench for Nebraska, which countered with a 19-7 run of its own to pull within 66-61.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — For a struggling Missouri men’s basketball team, even an NCAA record-breaking night wasn’t enough for a win. After sinking 31 free throws in its weekend loss to Alabama, the Tigers (9-9, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) continued their streak with 23 foul shots in a row against Texas A&M. The 54 consecutive free throws broke the NCAA record of 50 set by Wake Forest in 2005.But it wasn’t enough — Josh Nebo and his 14 points overpowered a sloppy Missouri team to a 66-64 Aggies win.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Third-ranked Kansas and Kansas State ended their bitter showdown with a wild melee behind the basket that included punches, shoving and at least one player picking up a stool. The brawl started moments after the Jayhawks tried to dribble out the time on their 81-60 victory. Silvio De Sousa was stripped by the Wildcats’ DaJuan Gordon near mid-court and Gordon tried to go in for a layup. The Jayhawks’ big man recovered and blocked his shot, sending Gordon to the floor, then stood over him barking. That triggered benches to empty and punches to be thrown.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are headed to their first Super Bowl in 50 years and nobody is happier than the family that owns the franchise. Clark Hunt is the most visible face of the Hunt family. He has wanted desperately to win the AFC championship trophy that bears the name of his father and the team’s founder, Lamar. And when the Chiefs checked that off with a win over the Tennessee Titans, it also meant that his mother, Norma, would finally get to see their team in the big game for the first time since 1970.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Workers at the Miami Dolphins’ stadium are busily preparing the complex for the Super Bowl on Feb. 2 between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. Eric Finkelstein is the NFL senior director of event operations. He says about 6,000 people are working behind the scenes to get everything set up, and they’re on schedule. The site will include the first Super Bowl gondolas, which will provide fans with a view of pregame festivities from a height of 90 feet. The NFL has been on site since Jan. 2 and built 4 1/2 miles of fence to secure the perimeter.

ATLANTA (AP) — Free agent outfielder Marcell Ozuna and the Atlanta Braves have reached an $18 million, one-year deal. The deal puts Ozuna on the team he helped beat in the playoffs last October. Ozuna hit .429 with two home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals in their five-game win over the Braves in the NL Division Series. The 29-year-old Ozuna hit .241 with 29 home runs and 89 RBIs last season. His low batting average was something on an oddity because he ranked among the major league leaders in the highest percentage of hard-hit balls, according to Statcast.

Solomon Young scored a career-high 27 points off the bench, Rasir Bolton added 21 points and nine rebounds and Iowa State beat Oklahoma State 89-82. Young, a 6-foot-8 senior who started the first 14 games of the season, gave the Cyclones a much-needed energy boost and also grabbed nine rebounds as the Cowboys remained winless in conference play. The Cyclones, who made of 11 of 24 3-point attempts, led 75-60 with five minutes left and held off a late Cowboys’ charge by hitting four straight free throws in the closing moments. Lindy Waters led Oklahoma State with 14 points.

Quad @ Audubon
Woodbine 30, Audubon 27
Woodbine 39, West Harrison 24
Woodbine 36, Coon Rapids-Bayard 12
Audubon 30, Coon Rapids-Bayard 12
Audubon 36, West Harrison 18

Quad @ Bishop Heelan, Sioux City
West Sioux 59, Bishop Heelan 12
West Sioux 46, Logan-Magnolia 24
West Sioux 42, Woodbury Central 20
Logan-Magnolia 53, Woodbury Central 25
Logan-Magnolia 44, Bishop Heelan 30
Woodbury Central 50, Bishop Heelan 21

Quad @ Clarinda
Missouri Valley 57, Tri-Center 21
Missouri Valley 57, Clarinda 21
Missouri Valley 59, Southwest Iowa 21
Clarinda 45, Tri-Center 30
Clarinda 58, Southwest Iowa 24
Tri-Center 50, Southwest Iowa 24

Quad @ East Mills
Bedford/Lenox 48, East Mills 33
Bedford/Lenox 63, Clarinda Academy 6
Bedford/Lenox 60, East Union 6
East Mills 54, Clarinda Academy 12
East Mills 60, East Union 6
East Union 30, Clarinda Academy 18

Duals @ Lewis Central (Council Bluffs Duals) 
Lewis Central 74, Thomas Jefferson 6
Lewis Central 57, Abraham Lincoln 24
Lewis Central 72, St. Albert 12
Abraham Lincoln 52, Thomas Jefferson 24
Abraham Lincoln 59, St. Albert 19
St. Albert 48, Thomas Jefferson 30

Quad @ Roland-Story
North Polk 46, Greene County 33
Greene County 51, West Central Valley 18
Greene County 52, Roland-Story 28
North Polk 64, West Central Valley 18
North Polk 59, Roland-Story 27
Roland-Story 48, West Central Valley 36

Quad @ South Central Calhoun
Woodward-Granger 45, South Central Calhoun 36
Woodward-Granger 77, Baxter 0
Woodward-Granger 54, ACGC 27
South Central Calhoun 53, ACGC 29
South Central Calhoun 69, Baxter 0
ACGC 60, Baxter 6

Quad @ Van Meter
Winterset 36, Van Meter/Earlham 25
Winterset 52, Mount Ayr 23
Winterset 78, SW Valley 6
Van Meter/Earlham 57, Mount Ayr 21
Van Meter/Earlham 76, SW Valley 6
Mount Ayr 45, SW Valley 30

BOYS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference
Atlantic 64, Red Oak 52
Ballard 78, Harlan 54
Creston 74, Shenandoah 33
Glenwood 67, St. Albert 52

Western Iowa Conference
AHSTW 58, IKM-Manning 55
Logan-Magnolia 48, Missouri Valley 38
Treynor 94, Audubon 33
Underwood 51, Riverside 28

Rolling Valley Conference
Exira-EHK 44, Paton-Churdan 35
Coon Rapids-Bayard 49, CAM 44
Woodbine 38, Glidden-Ralston 29

Corner Conference
East Mills 60, Griswold 23
Stanton 90, Clarinda Academy 41

Pride of Iowa Conference
Martensdale-St. Marys 90, East Union 33
Nodaway Valley 60, Southwest Valley 25

West Central Activities Conference
AC/GC 68, Ogden 50
Panorama 74, Madrid 61
Van Meter 66, Woodward Academy 37

Other Scores
Carroll 79, Storm Lake 39
CB Abraham Lincoln 67, Sioux City North 42

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference
Red Oak 56, Atlantic 41
Ballard 58, Harlan 20
Creston 57, Shenandoah 14
Lewis Central 59, Denison-Schleswig 42

Western Iowa Conference
AHSTW 50, IKM-Manning 48
Logan-Magnolia 64, Missouri Valley 18
Treynor 36, Audubon 33

Rolling Valley Conference
CAM 70, Coon Rapids-Bayard 44
Exira-EHK 58, Paton-Churdan 36

Corner Conference
Stanton 71, Essex 22

Pride of Iowa Conference
Central Decatur 49, Bedford 14
Martensdale-St Marys 59, East Union 22
Mount Ayr 59, Lenox 30
Nodaway Valley 67, Southwest Valley 29
Southeast Warren 58, Wayne 43

West Central Activities Conference
AC/GC 60, Ogden 31
Earlham 52, Pleasantville 36
Woodward-Granger 47, West Central Valley 41

Non-Conference
ADM 67, Dallas Center-Grimes 63
Carroll 69, Storm Lake 34
CB Abraham Lincoln 67, Sioux City North 41