TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Holdings Corp (6752.T) said on Monday it will start building a new battery plant in Kansas in November and aims to begin mass production by March 2025, targeting North America's fast-growing market for electric vehicles.
The conglomerate's energy unit said in July it had picked Kansas as the site for a new plant to supply batteries primarily to Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), joining other battery producers planning massive U.S. investments to qualify for new EV tax credit rules and to tap that market's potentially massive demand.
Panasonic said in a statement that it expects initial production capacity of 30 gigawatt hours per year at the new plant. That's equivalent to roughly 60% of the company's current annual EV battery production capacity in Japan and the United States.
Kansas state officials said in July the factory would create up to 4,000 jobs with investment of up to $4 billion, pending final approval by Panasonic's board, which came through on Monday.
Hirokazu Umeda, Panasonic Holdings Group chief financial officer, declined to give a specific figure for the investment at an earnings briefing on Monday, but said as a rough estimate that it would be "on a scale of more than $4 billion" .
The company said the factory would produce its 2170 model lithium-ion battery cells, which are already supplied to Tesla, but may eventually make the more advanced 4680 format battery currently under development that is about five times larger and will offer major improvements in cost and vehicle range.
"We decided to start with the 2170 model, which can be launched with a sense of certainty and speed because of the need for batteries as soon as possible," Umeda said.
Panasonic has said it would begin mass production of the 4680 model at its plant in Wakayama, in western Japan, by the end of March 2024, with expansion later to production in North America.
Umeda said the ramp up to mass production was proceeding as planned.
Panasonic on Monday also lowered its full-year operating profit forecast to 320 billion yen ($2.16 billion) from 360 billion yen for the year ending March 31. That compares with a 349.9 billion yen average forecast by 19 analysts.
Panasonic posted an 11% drop in second-quarter operating profit, but performed better than analysts' estimates.
It reported 86.1 billion yen in operating profit for the three months to end-September, versus an average 81.6 billion yen profit estimated by nine analysts, according to Refinitiv data. A year earlier, the company earned 96.8 billion yen.
Although sales rose at its energy business, operating profit fell due to rising prices for raw materials and logistics, as well as increased development expenses and fixed costs as it increased production.
Its rivals, China's CATL (300750.SZ) and South Korea's Energy Solution (373220.KS), posted strong battery profit growth after they passed some of their cost increases to clients.
($1 = 147.9800 yen)
Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Edmund Klamann
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who missed a second straight day of practice Saturday because of a stomach bug, has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.
Rookie quarterback Malik Willis took the majority of the first-team snaps in practice this week and will get his first NFL start against the Texans. The Titans also called up quarterback Logan Woodside from the practice squad on Saturday.
Tannehill had started 49 consecutive games for the Titans, a franchise record for quarterbacks.
He was already dealing with an ankle sprain suffered in the fourth quarter of last week's win vs. the Indianapolis Colts. He was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday before missing Friday's practice and Saturday's walkthrough.
Willis was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2022 draft.
"Being prepared is probably my best bet," Willis said Friday." You have to prepare like you're going to be the starter every week."
Willis has one completion for 6 yards on four attempts this season.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has advanced through the concussion protocol to be cleared for Sunday's game versus the Dolphins, and will play, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per a source.
St. Brown was removed from the Lions' game versus the Cowboys and placed in the concussion protocol, but was not diagnosed with a concussion. St. Brown was a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday before fully participating on Friday as he worked through the protocols, and was labeled as questionable in Friday's injury report. But according to Rapoport, St. Brown has since cleared the concussion protocols and will be ready to play in Miami.
St. Brown's presence will be a big gain for the Lions as they attempt to pull off the upset over the Dolphins and break a four-game losing streak. St. Brown has recorded 275 receiving yards this season, but only 22 in the last two games. Whether the second-year receiver will be able to improve upon his recent performance on Sunday remains to be seen, but he will be on the field.
Detroit (1-5) and Miami (4-3) will kick off at 1 p.m. ET.
Other injuries we are keeping an eye on ahead of Sunday's Week 6 games:
Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz (knee) and linebacker Micah Parsons (shoulder) are both expected to play Sunday versus the Bears after being initially listed as questionable, according to Rapoport. Rapoport added that safety Malik Hooker (hamstring) will be a game-time decision.
Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks (wrist) is expected to play Sunday versus the Titans despite being a late addition to the injury report, Rapoport reported.
Indianapolis Colts defensive back Kenny Moore is expected to play versus the Commanders despite suffering a scary finger injury in practice this week, per Rapoport.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, who was questionable after dealing with a flu-like illness all week, is expected to play versus the Saints, per Rapoport, as he felt better near the end of the week.
New England Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor (hamstring) is expected to play versus the Jets, according to Rapoport, per a source.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (hamstring/ribs) is considered to be a game-time decision versus the Giants, though there is optimism that he plays, Rapoport reported, per a source. In addition, Rapoport said wide receiver D.K. Metcalf (knee) has a good chance of playing on Sunday after practicing on Friday.
Saturday at Martinsville Speedway marks the final chance for playoff drivers to secure a spot in the Nov. 5 Xfinity Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway.
JR Motorsports drivers Josh Berry and Noah Gragson have secured spots via wins in the Round of 8. That leaves six drivers vying for the final two spots in Saturday’s race at Martinsville (3 p.m. ET on NBC).
Details for Saturday’s Xfinity race at Martinsville Speedway
(All times Eastern)
START: The command to start engines will be given at 3:27 p.m. … Green flag is scheduled to wave at 3:36 p.m.
PRERACE: Xfinity garage opens at noon. … Driver intros are at 2:50 p.m. … William Byron will give the invocation at 3:19 p.m. … Virginia Military Institute Glee Club will perform the anthem at 3:20 p.m.
DISTANCE: The race is 250 laps (131.5 miles) on the 0.526-mile speedway.
STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 60. Stage 2 ends at Lap 120.
TV/RADIO: NBC will broadcast the race at 3:30 p.m. . … Countdown to Green airs at 3 p.m. on NBC. Motor Racing Network coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. and also will stream at mrn.com. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the MRN broadcast.
Halloween is just around the corner. A classic scary movie or spooky game can be a satisfying October staple. Not everyone is a fan of the horror genre, though, and that's OK. Apple Arcade -- Apple's $5 (£5, AU$8)-a-month mobile gaming subscription service -- has multiple titles to check out that pair well with spooky season.
Here's what to play this month.
Bleak Sword
Developer: Devolver Digital
Devolver
Bleak Sword is a dark retro fantasy action game full of evil creatures you must slay in order to break a legendary curse. Dodge, roll and parry against randomly generated enemies across nine chapters of swamps, forests and castles.
The Bradwell Conspiracy
Developer: Bossa Studios and A Brave Plan
Bossa Studios
The Bradwell Conspiracy is a narrative-driven first-person game where you have to uncover the truth behind the explosion that destroyed the Bradwell Electronics facility. At the start of the game, you wake up in the rubble with only a computerized voice in your "smart glasses" to guide you. The glasses guide eventually connects you to another person trapped inside the facility, and you must try to escape together.
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls
Developer: Konami Digital Entertainment
Apple
Dracula is quintessentially Halloween. Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls is a side-scrolling action game that features a number of characters from the original gothic fantasy series and its creators, Ayami Kojima and Michiru Yamane. The game is set after Dracula has been sealed away, and you can play as Alucard, Charlotte, Maria, Simon Belmont and more as you battle your way through Dracula's army.
Cozy Grove
Developer: Spry Fox
Apple
Cozy Grove is like a haunted version of Animal Crossing, and it's adorable. You're a Spirit Scout tasked with bringing peace to the adorably haunted island of Cozy Grove. Explore the island, collect resources and craft items to survive, tend your fire -- Flamey -- and try to help the lost forest ghosts. The more you help, the more the island heals -- the environment becomes colorized and flowers grow.
Creaks
Developer: Amanita Design
Apple
Creaks is an intricate puzzle platformer game that seeks to solve the mystery of what exactly goes bump in the night. In the game, you're spending a quiet evening in your room when the light starts flickering and the ground trembles. The wallpaper pulls back to reveal a secret door, and someone, or something, is making noise in there. Grab your flashlight and explore a mysterious subterranean world of bird people. Lurking in the shadows are deadly, shape-shifting monsters. But don't worry -- when you shine a light on them, they transform into harmless furniture.
Don't Starve: Pocket Edition
Developer: Klei
Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
Don't Starve: Pocket Edition puts you in the role of Wilson, a scientist, transported to a mysterious, unexplored wilderness full of unidentified creatures, dangers and surprises. You must help Wilson fight off enemies, research, navigate the environment, craft resources, gather items, solve the mystery of the strange land and ultimately survive.
The Get Out Kids
Developer: Frosty Pop
Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
The Get Out Kids mixes mystery with nostalgia, taking players back to 1984. Molly, Salim and Molly's dog Moses sneak out one night to catch a late showing of the Ghostblasters movie at the local drive-in. Along the way, they have to navigate creepy woods and sneak past the surly cemetery groundskeeper. When Moses goes missing suddenly and suspiciously, Molly and Salim begin an adventure to find out what happened to their canine friend. This narrative-driven game includes puzzles, hidden object searches and more.
Hitchhiker
Developer: Versus Evil and Mad About Pandas
Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
Hitchhiker is a mystery game where you play as a hitchhiker with no memory of your past or destination. By catching rides with five strangers across a landscape of rolling hills, you must try and figure out who you are as well as find a mysterious missing friend. Everyone has a story to tell, but not everything is what it seems. Search the vehicles for clues and choose your words carefully to bring hidden parts of your identity to light -- and prepare for the dangers ahead. The longer you're on the road, the more your grasp on reality loosens.
Inmost
Developer: Hidden Layer Games and Chucklefish Games
Hidden Layer Games
Inmost, a hidden-object platformer, immediately drops players into a creepy world inside a mysterious house. You'll play as multiple characters whose storylines are more connected than they might seem at first. Navigate a strange castle and dodge menacing shadows on your path to find answers.
Jenny LeClue
Developer: Joe Russ and Ben Tillet
Joe Russ and Ben Tillet
Jenny LeClue envelops players in a mystery-adventure-thriller narrative, guided by choices you make. The game is set in the seemingly idyllic town of Arthurton, where you play as Jenny, a kid sleuth who is eager to prove her worth as a detective. When your mother is accused of murder, you set out to prove the truth. As you seek out answers, you quickly realize that nothing and no one in Arthurton are what they seem.
Layton's Mystery Journey
Developer: Level 5
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
Layton's Mystery Journey sets up a Sherlock Holmes-meets-Studio Ghibli environment to tell the story of Katrielle Layton -- a young detective out to unravel the mystery of her father's disappearance. Visit the crime scene, investigate with your magnifying glass, interview witnesses and suspects, collect clues and solve puzzles to crack the case. The puzzles in the game start off simple, and you can use coins to get clues if you get stuck. The more difficult a puzzle is, the higher its coin value. Earning coins also grants you access to end-game bonuses that help you solve your case.
Murder Mystery Machine
Developer: Blazing Griffin
Apple Arcade
In Murder Mystery Machine, you're a detective out to prove yourself when a murder case comes across your desk. Explore the crime scene, collect evidence, interview suspects and make deductions to solve the case. You can get hints from your partner if you get stuck, but he's a bit surly. The game releases mysteries in episodes, and the first one is about a murdered politician. Fans of detective procedurals like Law & Order might like this game.
Necrobarista
Developer: Route 59
Apple/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
Anime-style supernatural game Necrobarista tells the story of Maddy Xiao -- a barista and amateur necromancer -- is the new owner of the Terminal, a coffee shop that welcomes the dead to walk among the living for one night. Under the tutelage of coffee expert and necromancer Chay Wu, Maddy must navigate the Council of Death's rules, the ethics of life and death, and what it means to let go.
Neo Cab
Developer: Chance Agency
Apple/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
Neo Cab is a survival game for the digital age embroiled in a mystery. You play as Lina, the last human taxi driver in a world overcome by automation. When you move to Los Ojos to reconnect with your best friend, Savy, she vanishes. With no other options, you must keep taking passengers to earn money and get information about Savy's disappearance. This becomes increasingly difficult as you progress. Keep an eye on your Feelgrid bracelet to stay in tune with your emotions and ultimately remain human in this tech-noir game.
Neversong
Developer: Serenity Forge
Apple/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
Neversong is a side-scrolling puzzle game where you play as young Peet, who, upon waking from a coma, finds himself in a nightmare. With his girlfriend nowhere to be found, Peet must navigate the frightening halls of Blackfork Asylum and try to understand the sometimes-violent behavior of adults. The more he explores, the more the secrets of his past unfurl. Neversong has six levels to explore, including Red Wind Field and Blackfork Asylum, which are all packed with bosses to defeat. Armed with a baseball bat, his childhood friends and his pet bird, Peet will set out to learn the truth about his coma.
Nuts
Developer: Noodlecake
Apple
Nuts is a surveillance mystery game that's lightheartedly reminiscent of Firewatch. The squirrel population in Melmoth Forest is acting suspiciously and it's up to you, as a field researcher, to get to the bottom of it. Pack up your map, cameras, motion sensors, thermal imaging tech and GPS for the weirdest surveillance mission ever. Along the way, you'll be tasked with missions: Placing cameras, observing footage, tracking the squirrels' movements and more. The whole time, you're in communication with Professor Nina Scholz. With all that gear, plus your logic and wit, will you be able to uncover a bigger conspiracy?
The Room Two
Developer: Fireproof Games
Fireproof/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
The Room Two is a gorgeous 3D mystery puzzle game. You must follow a trail of letters left behind by a mysterious scientist with the initials A.S. The game is intricate and requires a tactile approach to solving in-depth, multistep puzzles.
Survival Z
Developer: Ember Entertainment
Apple
Survival Z is a fun tower-defense-style strategy game that drops you into a world crippled by a zombie outbreak. You play as Megan, a loner mechanic who's savvy with a crossbow. When she meets Marcus, another survivor with intel on a diner potentially stocked with supplies, the pair head off on a journey, salvaging and upgrading equipment and battling waves of zombies along the way.
World's End Club
Developer: IzanagiGames
Apple
World's End Club is perhaps the darkest game on Apple Arcade so far. In the game, a busload of ragtag students known as the Go-Getters Club are on a field trip when a mysterious meteor causes the bus to crash. The kids awaken in a creepy theme park under the sea called World's End Land, and try to regroup. Suddenly, a floating harlequin named Pielope appears, and commands them to play a Game of Fate. As the stakes get higher, friendships are put to the test. Pielope's psychotic game sends the Go-Getter's Club on a dangerous adventure.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The FGCU swim team finally got its season started on Friday at the Bellarmine Duals and got off to a strong start as they lead against all three opponents. The Eagles are out in front over the Knights 120-46, Gardner-Webb, 116-50, and Southern Indiana, 139-27.
"Very proud of how we raced today," said head coach Dave Rollins. "We can be a bit better with the technical aspects of our races, turns, breakouts, etc. but for our first meet, it's been great to see the team competing together! We welcome in so many new faces this season, it's great to see them racing. As a team we are figuring some things out, relay orders, events, etc. but that's what these opportunities are for. Excited to come back tomorrow and have another strong day."
The night got started with the Eagles finishing first, second, and fourth in the 200 medley relay. Lucija Sulenta (Zagreb, Croatia) was the lone Green and Blue veteran leading a group of newcomers – Jenna Gwinn (Baltimore, Md.), Cameron Kuriger (Columbus, Ohio) and Mia Burke (Owings Mills, Md.) – to touch first in the event with a time of 1:45.93, over two seconds faster than the rest of the field.
Sara Niepelova (Piestany, Slovakia) continued FGCU's fast start, touching first in the 1000 free with a time of 10:40.28. Izabela Zekuciova (Drmoul, Czech Republic) was right on her heels, finishing second with a time of 10:40.55 after 40 laps.
In the 100 back, the Eagles had five of the top six finishers led by Louisville native Emma Hixenbaugh who touched first with a time of 58.14 followed by Sulenta at 58.39.
In the 200 breast, Anna Hogan, another Louisville native, was the top Eagle in the race, finishing second with a time of 2:25.51.
FGCU picked up a sweep in the 50 free as Hailey Jerew (24.12) Sulenta (24.69), and Dani D'Ambrosio (24.95) went 1-2-3.
A pair of freshmen won the next two events as Kuriger touched first in the 100 fly with a time of 57.67 before Burke won the 200 free with a time of 1.56.96, nearly a second faster than the field.
The Eagles will be back in the pool tomorrow at 10 a.m. for day two in Louisville.
For complete coverage of FGCU swimming & diving, follow the Eagles on Twitter (@FGCU_WSwimDive), Instagram (@FGCU_WSwimDive) and online at www.FGCUAthletics.com. You can also sign up to have news on FGCU swimming & diving or other programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting https://ift.tt/NcV63qP.
HEAD COACH DAVE ROLLINS
Head coach Dave Rollins is only the second coach in program history. He was hired Sept. 1, 2016 and owns a 35-26-1 (.573) dual meet record, which includes a 14-2 (.875) mark against CCSA opponents, in his seventh season. Rollins guided FGCU to back-to-back CCSA titles (2017, 2018), marking the ninth championship in 10 years before winning the 10th championship in program history in 2021. In addition, he has been awarded CCSA Coach of the Year in two of his seasons at the helm. Previously, Rollins was the associate head men's swimming coach at The Ohio State University. Rollins brings over a decade of coaching experience to The Nest, which includes helping to develop Olympians, NCAA Champions and All-Americans, along with multiple conference champions. A native of Brockton, Mass., he was a standout collegiate swimmer in his own right and was inducted into the University of Arizona's Hall of Fame in 2017, as a nine-time NCAA All-American, national champion, school record holder and team captain.
E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (https://ift.tt/VJpMGAr), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 92 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 15 seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 11 seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 45 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. In 2022, the men's golf team became the first program to earn at at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 20, 2021-22), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2022) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as four of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 26 consecutive semesters. The past five semesters (Fall 2019 – Spring 2022) saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher cumulative team GPA. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
LONDON — Russell Wilson is poised to return to the starting lineup.
"Barring any setbacks, we're hoping to see Russell out there," Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett said after Friday afternoon's practice at Harrow School.
Wilson missed the Broncos' Week 7 loss with a hamstring injury he suffered against the Chargers on "Monday Night Football."
Hackett said Wilson did not have any limitations in Friday's practice, and he was not given a game status. The lack of a game status indicates he is expected to be available to play.
After another week, Hackett said the Broncos are "more comfortable" with Wilson playing against the Jaguars than they were a week ago.
"Russell's always going to think he can go," Hackett said. "That's what you love about the guy. He's always going to want to be out there. He's a true competitor. For us, we wanted to be sure we gave him time to be able to get his mind right, his body right, everything. Just being out here, watching him throw, watching him move in the pocket, you felt a lot more comfortable than last week."
Hackett said the team considered holding Wilson out for another week, but noted "if he can go, we want him to be able to play."
Wilson began his last game by completing his first 10 passes and leading the Broncos to a 10-0 lead over the Chargers. Hackett said the Broncos need to focus on "those basics and those fundamentals" to find continued success against the Jaguars.
I" think that's what we did great in that beginning," Hackett said. "He was able to get some competitions early … We just want to continue that. We want to spread the ball around, we want to be efficient and take the shots when we need to take them."
Along with tech skills, AWS re/Start equally emphasizes the development of professional skills. The program provides learners with resume and interview coaching to prepare them for future employer meetings and interviews. Throughout the AWS re/Start training, local collaborating organizations, like Per Scholas, work one-on-one with learners to better understand their areas of interest and career goals. Instructors help learners update their LinkedIn profiles, write cover letters, and create multiyear career plans. Once learners are ready, Per Scholas connects them with potential job opportunities in its robust employer network.
“Learners connect with employers through volunteerism, whether that be virtual or in person. Volunteerism could look like fireside chats, lunch and learns, mock interviews, or just any way for us to get the employer in front of the candidate and spark conversations from there,” said Dante Wade, director of national business solutions at Per Scholas.
This approach is proving to be successful. AWS re/Start graduates have been hired to fill entry-level, in-demand cloud roles in operations, site reliability, and infrastructure support at organizations including Accenture, KPMG International Limited, Financial Times, and Sony Interactive Entertainment.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State volleyball team returns to the road with a pair of matches against Arizona State and Arizona on Friday and Sunday. First serve against the Sun Devils is set for 7 p.m. PT, while Sunday's contest with the Wildcats will begin at noon.
FOLLOW THE BEAVS
Watch Friday: Pac-12 Oregon
Watch Sunday: Arizona Live Stream
Live Stats: oregonstate.statbroadcast.com
Social Media: @BeaverVBall (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter)
NEWEST MEMBER OF THE 4K CLUB
On a night where she needed just 30 assists to reach the 4,000 career assist milestone, graduate transfer Inna Balyko, matched an Oregon State high, dished out the third-most assists in a match in her career and distributed 50 or more assists for the seventh time in her career, finishing the victory with 53 helpers to guide Oregon State to a season-best matching 69 kills in the win over Colorado. She also set a season-high in digs with 15 to record her fifth double-double of the season and anchor the OSU defense that out-dug the Buffaloes 57-38 in the match.
VICIOUS VERNON Mychael Vernon has finished in double figures for kills in 15 of her 18 matches played so far this season. She recorded a career-high 22 kills in the win over the Buffs, swinging .333 in the process. Of the 18 matches, Vernon has been the top attacker for the Beavs in 11, including seven of the Beavs Pac-12 matches. She leads the Beavs with 231 kills on the season.
IZZI, IZZI, IZZI
A two-year starter at Oregon State, Izzi Szulczewski recorded Oregon State's first triple-double in five years against Portland, and is one of just two PAC-12 athletes with a triple-double this season. She is the only PAC-12 athlete with multiple triple-doubles this season and one of just 13 in the country.
KILLER KINLEY
Freshman Kinley Swan has made just 11 errors to go along with 56 kills on 113 attempts through 10 matches of PAC-12 play. Swan is third in the conference with a .398 hitting percentage through the first 10 matches of league play.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Oregon State had three or more attackers in double figures for the first time since the five-set win over Cal on Sept. 23 at Gill, in the win over Colorado last Friday. Mychael Vernon (22) and Izzi Szulczewski (15) both sets career-highs in kills for the pair of sophomore attackers, as Kateryna Tkachenko also got in on the fun for the Beavs with 11 kills of her own. The trio finished with just 13 errors to help guide the Beavs to a season-high .398 attacking percentage as a team.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (GoBEAVS).
DENVER -- With the Los Angeles Lakers' 0-4 start being the first time his team has lost four straight games to begin a season since he was a rookie nearly 20 years ago, LeBron James vowed to tweak his personal approach moving forward.
"I wasn't aggressive enough in a lot of my turnovers," James said after committing eight miscues in L.A.'s 110-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. "I was coming off a lot of screens, looking to pass, get guys involved, and I wasn't aggressive enough."
James, who finished with 19 points on 8-for-21 shooting, nine assists and seven rebounds to go with those turnovers, said the adjustment will start in the Lakers' next game, at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
"That's an easy fix for me," James said. "I'll be much better on Friday with that. I've done it over and over the course of my career. That's an easy fix. I'm not worried about that."
There are plenty of other issues for the Lakers to fix at the moment. They shot 8-for-30 from 3 (26.7%), continuing the worst 3-point shooting start by any team in league history with at least 100 attempts through four games, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information.
"Well, I think we were shooting 20%, and today we shot 26%," Lakers guard Patrick Beverley said, without a hint of irony. "So we got better."
L.A. was outrebounded 54-47 against the Nuggets. It was nearly doubled in fast-break scoring, 35-18. And it was controlled in second-chance points, 15-8.
The Lakers also played their first game of the season without point guard Russell Westbrook, who sat because of left hamstring soreness. Lakers coach Darvin Ham did not rule out the Wolves game for Westbrook's return, although James cautioned against a hasty comeback.
"Russ, definitely dealing with a hamstring," James said. "I played with [Dwyane] Wade. And I don't know how, but you just have to be cool with all that. You can't force it until that thing is ready to go. You've got to be very conscious of that."
On the bright side, Anthony Davis (22 points, 14 rebounds) played through discomfort in his lower back and said he'll "be fine" going forward. The Lakers could use that.
"We're four games in, it sucks to lose, but having 78 games left, there's plenty of time for us to right the ship, and it starts now," Ham said. "It starts yesterday."
FRISCO, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott's availability could be up in the air for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears because of a sprained right knee.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Elliott will not practice Wednesday and will do rehab off to the side as Dallas looks to manage his workload during the week.
The Cowboys have a bye after playing the Bears, and a two-week break for Elliott could serve him well for the long haul. But McCarthy said that will not factor in a potential decision this week.
"That's just not the way we approach it, so we'll just see how he responds today," McCarthy said. "[Director of rehabilitation Britt Brown] will continue to build the plan based off what they accomplish today."
Elliott took a hit to his right knee in the second quarter of Sunday's victory against the Detroit Lions. He returned and scored two touchdowns while finishing with 57 rushing yards on 15 carries but was limping noticeably in the locker room after the game.
Elliott has 109 carries for 443 yards and four touchdowns this season. The three-time Pro Bowler played most of last season with a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that he said took away his burst. Late in the season, he wore a brace on his knee but managed to play every game.
If Elliott, who has missed just one game to injury in his career, cannot play against Chicago, the Cowboys would lean on Tony Pollard, who has 375 yards and two touchdowns on 67 carries. He has never had more than 14 carries in a game in his career.
"We're so, so fortunate to have Tony and Zeke here," McCarthy said. "I think both are fully capable of carrying a full load."
The Cowboys have called up undrafted rookie Malik Davis from the practice squad in each of the past two games and also have Qadree Ollison on the practice squad.
"I feel great, ready to roll," said Wilson, who missed last weekend's game against the New York Jets because of a hamstring injury. "... Hopefully get a big win in London. ... I feel great, ready to rock."
Speaking to reporters Wednesday after Denver's practice -- held at a school whose alums include Winston Churchill, Wilson also said he did rehab for his sore hamstring on the Broncos' chartered flight to England.
"I was doing treatment on the plane," he said. "Everybody else was knocked out and I was walking up and down the aisles, high knees, working on my legs, making sure I was ready to rock."
Wilson, who suffered the injury earlier this month during the Broncos' loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, did not play in Denver's 16-9 loss this past Sunday to the Jets. Brett Rypien started under center for the Broncos, who failed to score more than 16 points for the sixth time this season.
Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett did not disclose much on Wilson's status after Wednesday's practice, going only as far as saying that the nine-time Pro Bowler is "trending in the right way" and that "he did quite a bit (Wednesday)."
The three games Wilson missed last season after finger surgery were the only other games he has missed in his career. He already has been receiving treatment for a partial muscle tear near his right shoulder since the Broncos' Oct. 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
When asked what he would have to see this week for Wilson to start and play Sunday against Jacksonville, Hackett said Wilson would have to be able "to protect himself, be able to escape, be able to move."
Hackett offered the same benchmarks last week before Saturday's decision to hold out Wilson against the Jets. Wilson was limited in practice last week, and during the open viewing periods he struggled to make even basic movements.
Wilson, however, said Wednesday he thought he could have played against the Jets.
"I was ready to rock," Wilson said. "I always want to be on the field. ... Obviously it was tough not being out there."
The Broncos (2-5) have lost four consecutive games, are currently last in the NFL in scoring (14.3 points per game), last in red zone offense, last in goal-to-go situations and rank 30th on third down.
But Wilson's teammates believe his return to the lineup could help where any help is desperately needed.
"It would absolutely be huge," safety Justin Simmons said. "... That's going to be huge for us."
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