Renata Fast scores in OT as Sceptres come back to beat Frost 3-2 in Natalie Spooner’s return

TORONTO (AP) — Renata Fast scored late in overtime to give the Toronto Sceptres a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Frost on Tuesday night in reigning MVP Natalie Spooner’s return from knee surgery.

Fast beat Minnesota goaltender Maddie Rooney on a breakaway with 3.7 seconds left in 3-on-3 OT, ending a game in which Spooner had a point in her season debut. Spooner was playing her first game in nine months as the Professional Women’s Hockey League began the second half of its season.

Sophie Jaques and Brooke McQuigge put Minnesota ahead 2-0. Jaques converted a 3-on-1 rush, 83 seconds into the game. McQuigge scored on a breakaway midway through the second period.

The Sceptres tied the game with goals less than two minutes apart. Hannah Miller knocked in her own rebound, as did Daryl Watts.

Spooner, who was injured on May 13 in a first-round playoff series against Minnesota, assisted on Toronto’s first goal.

Sceptres: Toronto played without Sarah Nurse after she suffered a lower-body injury while playing for Canada in a 2-1 shootout loss against the United States in Halifax on Thursday in the Rivalry Series.

Frost: Defender Jaques, who hails from Toronto, enjoyed a strong game, with a goal and an assist.

A nifty penalty kill from Toronto — particularly by forward Emma Maltais — early in the third period kept the game tied 2-2.

A first-period assist from Minnesota forward Kendall Coyne Schofield increased her total to 15 points in 16 games to pull her even with league leader Sarah Fillier of the New York Sirens and one shy of Coyne Schofield’s point total in 24 games last season.

The Frost visit the Ottawa Charge on Thursday. The Sceptres host the Boston Fleet on Friday.

AP Women’s Hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Toronto Sceptres' Natalie Spooner (24) leaves the ice after warming up ahead of their PWHL hockey game against the Minnesota Frost, in Toronto, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Sceptres' Jesse Compher (18) shoots on Minnesota Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney (35) during the second period of their PWHL hockey game, in Toronto, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.(Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Sceptres' Natalie Spooner takes the ice for warm-up ahead of their PWHL hockey game against the Minnesota Frost, in Toronto, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

Minnesota Frost's Grace Zumwinkle (13) and Toronto Sceptres' Savannah Harmon race for the puck during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

Minnesota Frost's Kendall Coyne-Schofield, left, tries to get a puck past Toronto Sceptres goaltender Raygan Kirk as Sceptres' Blayre Turnbull defends during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Sceptres' Natalie Spooner (centre right) celebrates a goal with Hannah Miller (34) as Minnesota Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney (35) lays on the ice during the second period of their PWHL hockey game, in Toronto, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

Minnesota Frost's Brooke McQuigge (3) celebrates a goal with teammates during the second period of their PWHL hockey game against the Toronto Sceptres, in Toronto, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Sceptres' Natalie Spooner (centre right) celebrates a goal with Hannah Miller (34) as Minnesota Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney (35) lays on the ice during the second period of their PWHL hockey game, in Toronto, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan beat No. 24 Southern California 96-66 on Friday night.

Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten), and Will Tschetter, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 10.

Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season.

Jaden Brownell scored 16 points and Erza Ausar added 15 for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Michigan starting guard Nimari Burnett was helped from the court with 16:25 left after falling during a battle under the basket. He went down to the floor and appeared to be bleeding above his eyebrow and holding his ankle. He sat on the bench the rest of the night.

The Wolverines bolted out to an 11-0 lead thanks to a defense that forced six early turnovers. USC got within five points twice in the first half and Michigan responded with a 32-19 run to build a 49-31 halftime advantage.

USC got no closer the rest of the way.

USC: At No. 9 Michigan State on Monday.

Michigan: Visits Penn State on Tuesday.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Michigan center Aday Mara, front, drives against Southern California center Gabe Dynes, back, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)