Here is the latest New England sports news from The Associated Press

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — The Boston Bruins beat the New York Islanders for the 16th time in 20 meetings. Brad Marchand scored the goal-ahead in the second period for the B's in their 4-1 victory last night. Adam McQuaid, David Krejci and Greg Campbell also scored. The Bruins won their fourth straight to bolster their best start since the 1976-77 season.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals slammed the Boston Red Sox 15-4 yesterday in exhibition baseball. Ryan Dempster pitched two hitless innings. He threw 33 pitches, 24 for strikes, and fanned two. Dempster joined the Red Sox as a free agent during the offseason.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Former Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine is trying his hand at college sports. Valentine is set to take over as the new athletic director at Sacred Heart University. The Connecticut native was fired as manager of the Red Sox after just one season.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A new deal will keep the American Hockey League's Whale playing in Hartford until 2016. Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy announced the multi-year agreement yesterday. It calls for the New York Rangers' minor-league affiliate to play at the XL Center for the 2013-2016 seasons.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — In college women's basketball, Number 3 Connecticut closed out its home schedule with a 76-36 rout of Pittsburgh last night. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis had 19 points and 13 rebounds to help with the win. Breanna Stewart added 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots while Stefanie Dolson had 14 points for the Huskies.

GEORGETOWN, Mass. (AP) — A bus carrying University of Maine women's basketball players ran off a highway north of Boston last night, seriously injuring the driver. State police say 22 other people on the bus, including students, suffered only minor injuries. It's believed the driver had a medical episode.

TODAY'S NEW ENGLAND SPORTS SCHEDULE:

EXHIBITION BASEBALL:

Boston vs. Baltimore (ss) at Sarasota, Fla., 7:05 p.m.

COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL:

Holy Cross at Army, 7 p.m.

Georgetown at UConn, 7 p.m.

Northeastern at Georgia St., 7 p.m.

Boston College at NC State, 8 p.m.

COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL:

Sacred Heart at Bryant, 5:30 p.m.

Army at Holy Cross, 7 p.m.

Albany (N.Y.) at New Hampshire, 7 p.m.

Richmond at Rhode Island, 7 p.m.

UMass at Saint Joseph's, 7 p.m.

Hartford at UMBC, 7 p.m.

Binghamton at Vermont, 7 p.m.