off the inbounds, but Niang sealed the win with a block as time expire

MONTREAL -- It isnt often a Quebec rink gets to play at home in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts but thats what skip Allison Ross of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., will experience this week. A year in which the Canadian curling championship has been pushed forward a week to accommodate the Winter Olympics was deemed the perfect chance to stage the event in Montreal for the first time since 1979. The opening ceremonies and the first two draws are set for Saturday at the 4,000-seat Maurice Richard Arena, normally the training base for Canadas short-track speedskating team. "For us its going to be really fun," Ross said Friday. "Were really a team that likes to have the crowd support. "We respond well to that. Its a bit more pressure, for sure, a bit more media attention, but we are a team that likes it. We are enjoying every minute of it." Interest is likely to be lower than usual with the tournament schedule overlapping the Feb. 8 start of the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. But holding it in a city not known as a curling hotbed and far from the sports heartland in western Canada, is seen as a chance to grow the game. Kruger, which produces Scotties paper products, has its head office in Montreal, also worked in its favour as well. "This will be a wonderful platform to get (curling message) out here," said tournament director Francine Poisson, who played in three Canadian championships in the late 1980s and early 1990s. "Weve had a lot of French media this week, so its breaking the (notion) of curling being an English sport. "Its very exiting. The visibility of curling has never been as great as it is now. People are watching. Now its time to translate eyeballs into people playing in curling clubs." Next years tournament will return to curling country in Moose Jaw, Sask. Facing the likes of defending champion Rachel Homan of Ottawa, the Ross rink wont be among the favourites after going 3-8 at last years Scotties in Moncton, N.B. "We are hoping for a better result than last year," said Ross. "Last year we had three games that came down to last rock. "We could have had six wins instead of three. We take a lot of what we learned last year and come back a lot stronger this year." It isnt home for Homan, but Ottawa is just a two-hour drive or train ride away and shes also expecting some extra support as she defends her title. "Its nice for us," said Homan. "We drove here and a lot of friends and family will be coming up to support us and share the experience with us. "Obviously, there wont be as many fans here as there would be out west, but its good for our friends and family." Its an unusual Scotties in many ways, so perhaps there will be surprises on the ice. For one, Jennifer Jones rink from Winnipeg wont be around because shell be in Sochi. Instead, Chelsea Carey will make her Scotties debut for Manitoba. In 1979 in Montreal, British Columbia won the tournament led by Lindsay Sparkes. This time, B.C. will be led this time by 22-year-old skip Kesa Van Osch of Victoria. She wont be the youngest skip on the ice. That honour goes to 20-year-old Sarah Koltun of Whitehorse. The Yukon/Territories skip is the youngest ever to compete at the Scotties and the first player to skip at both the Scotties and Canadian junior championship in the same year. The favourites include Val Sweeting of Alberta, who is in her second Scotties, and Stefanie Lawton of Saskatchewan, who is at her third. The veterans are skip Heather Strong of Newfoundland, who is in her 11th Scotties, and Kim Dolan of P.E.I., who is in her 10th. "The transition is certainly happening," said Dolan. "There a lot of young teams and new faces, which is great to see. "Womens curling is in a great place, so these new young ladies are keen. That only entices other people to play and go after their dreams." The Ontario team is skipped by Allison Flaxey while Nova Scotia has Heather Smith at the helm and Andrea Crawford will carry New Brunswicks colours. Wholesale Jerseys . LOUIS -- The Atlanta Braves used a two-run rally in the ninth to end their road trip with a win. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . Pierre last November, only to watch St. Pierre leave the UFC octagon with his welterweight title belt and a split-decision victory. http://www.wholesalejerseysquality.com/ .com) - Coming off a pair of tough losses last week, the Syracuse Orange will try to put an end to their first losing skid of the season when they pay a visit to the Maryland Terrapins at the Comcast Center on Monday night in Atlantic Coast Conference action. Wholesale Jerseys Quality . - While a fast-paced offence has become more of a fixture in recent years, the San Antonio Spurs can still grind out games when needed.Ames, IA (SportsNetwork.com) - Dustin Hogue finished with 17 points and eight rebounds and No. 17 Iowa State used two key blocks in the waning seconds to hold off Oklahoma State for a 63-61 win in its Big 12 opener. Hogue shot 7-for-9 from the floor, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range, Georges Niang and Matt Thomas each scored 10 points and Monte Morris contributed eight points and six assists for the Cyclones (11-2, 1-0 Big 12), who bounced back from a 64-60 loss to South Carolina on Saturday. Its great to get the home win and now we get to go on the road and thats where if youre going to win a championship, youve got to go out and steal a couple, said Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg. Phil Forte paced the Cowboys (11-3, 1-1) with 21 points and LeBryan Nash supplied 19 points, six boards and six assists in the loss. Jeff Newberry scored five straight points and Tavarius Shines triple got the Cowboys within 56-55 with under seven minutes to play. Each team went cold as the games next basket was Hogues 3-pointer 3 1/2 minutes later. Fortes layup with 55 seconds to play made it a two-point game once again. After Niang missed a free throw, Shines 3-point try was swatted out of bounds by Hogue. Forte threw up a desparation shot from beyond the arc off the inbounds, but Niang sealed the win with a block as time expired.dddddddddddd. Trailing by a point with 2:30 to play in the first half, Thomas knocked down two treys as Iowa State used an 8-2 run to take a 26-21 lead into halftime after a tight opening 20 minutes of play. Hogue hit a 3-pointer to start the second half and an 8-2 spurt that featured a triple from Bryce Dejean-Jones for a 34-23 lead, forcing an Oklahoma State timeout less than two minutes into the final stanza. The Cowboys battled back as Nash scored nine points and Forte and Shine made shots from beyond during a 14-5 swing that got them within two points. Nash and Forte hit back-to-back treys as Oklahoma State took a 43-42 lead. Iowa State, however, reclaimed the lead with as it responded by outscoring the Cowboys by a 12-4 margin for a 54-47 game with under nine minutes to play. Game Notes Iowa State is 11-0 this season when leading at the half ... Nash has scored in double figures in 13 straight games ... The Cyclones have won four straight games against the Cowboys ... Iowa State shot 43.9 percent from the field, while Oklahoma State shot 42.4 percent. ' ' '