Boston College rides strong defense to 2nd straight win, 69-54 over Georgia Tech

BOSTON >> Donald Hand Jr. scored 20 points and Boston College turned in a second-straight strong defensive performance as the Eagles pulled away late to post a 69-54 win over Georgia Tech on Saturday.

Boston College (12-15, 4-12) snapped a four-game losing streak Tuesday by beating Virginia Tech, 54-36, the lowest point total by an ACC opponent since the Eagles joined the conference at the start of the 2005-06 season, and the defensive emphasis carried over against the Yellow Jackets, who were held to just 32.1% shooting and forced into committing 13 turnovers.

On Senior Day, senior Chad Venning and sophomore Elijah Strong were stoppers in the middle for Boston College. Venning scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but more important defensively blocked four shots. Strong added nine points and two rebounds.

American golfer Angel Yin moves into third-round lead at LPGA Thailand tournament

PATTAYA, Thailand >> Angel Yin birdied three of her final four holes on the front nine to help set up an 8-under 64 on Saturday to take a five-stroke lead into the final round of the LPGA Thailand tournament.

The American had a three-round total of 21-under 195 at Siam Country Club’s Pattaya Old Course.

Sponsor invite Akie Iwai of Japan, who led after the first two rounds, shot 71 and dropped into second place. She stumbled with her first bogey of the tournament on the ninth hole.

The event is the first stop of the LPGA’s so-called Asian swing before the tour moves to Singapore and China over the next two weeks.

The 26-year-old Yin’s best finish in four previous appearances at LPGA Thailand was a share of third place in 2021.

Rublev credits his mental approach after beating Jack Draper to win the Qatar Open

DOHA, Qatar >> Andrey Rublev credited his mental approach after beating Jack Draper 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 to win the Qatar Open for the second time Saturday.

It was Rublev’s third three-set win in three days. The Russian also dropped the second set in his two previous matches against Alex de Minaur and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

“I was really good mentally and didn’t let frustration get over me,” Rublev said. “As soon as I was frustrated, I was able to restart again and I was able to play at the same intensity. That’s the most important thing.”

It was the 17th title of Rublev’s career, having earned his first Doha trophy in 2020.

Rublev improved to 4-0 in his career against Draper.

Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva wins title in Dubai and will enter the top 10 of the rankings

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates >> Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva beat Clara Tauson 7-6 (1), 6-1 in the Dubai Championships on Saturday to earn the biggest title of her career.

The victory will earn Andreeva her debut in the top 10 of the rankings next week — the first 17-year-old to achieve that since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007.

It caps quite a week for Andreeva, who also had wins over 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, five-time major champion Iga Swiatek and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina to become the youngest player to defeat three major champions at a single event since Maria Sharapova at the 2004 WTA Finals. She also became the youngest player to reach the final of a WTA 1000 event.

Andreeva’s only other title was the Iasi Open in Romania last year.

— The Associated Press