NEWS » for Stanford.The Zags led for 18-plus minu

NEWPORT, R.I. -- Defending champion Rajeev Ram beat fellow American Mackenzie McDonald, 6-2, 6-3, in the opening round of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on Monday.Ram, a two-time winner on Newports grass courts -- also in 2009 when he won his only other ATP title -- needed just 65 minutes to get past the 21-year-old McDonald, making his tour debut.The 32-year-old Ram won the first set in 33 minutes on a new-look center court area in the shadows of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.He said he enjoys coming back to Newport.For me, yeah, Ive won two titles, theyve both been here, he said. Ive played here every year since Ive been a pro. A lot of things make it really special.After last years event, wooden bleachers at center court behind the south baseline were replaced by stadium seats. An electronic scoreboard was installed, which gave the players the option of challenging calls for the first time at the tournament, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.Up 4-0 in the second set, Ram doubled-faulted twice in three points to lose the first of two straight games.That probably shouldnt have happened from 40-love up, he said. Thankfully, I was up two breaks.He won the match when McDonald hit a forehand return wide.Ram feels better prepared to defend his title this year.It feels a little bit different than it did in 2010 when I was defending it, he said. I feel a little bit more confident in my game and what I can do.McDonald captured an NCAA singles and doubles title at UCLA before turning pro.Top seed Steve Johnson, now ranked a career-best No. 25, received a bye and is scheduled to play his first match Wednesday.In other first-round play, No. 8 seed Donald Young beat fellow American Jared Donaldson, 6-1, 6-3; Dudi Sela of Israel ousted Lukas Lacko of Slovakia, 6-3, 6-2; and Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland advanced when fifth-seeded Vasek Pospisil of Canada withdrew with a back injury.The Hall of Fame Championships are played in conjunction with induction ceremonies into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Justine Henin, a former WTA world No. 1 and seven-time major champion, and Marat Safin, a two-time major and former world No. 1, are scheduled to be enshrined Saturday during a center-court ceremony.Amelie Mauresmo, who was enshrined last year but missed the ceremony for the birth of her son, is also scheduled to be on hand. 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PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Coming in, Gonzaga was winless in seven all-time games against Stanford, including a 65-48 loss last season in which the Bulldogs led 47-46 with 6:23 to play and missed their final 12 shots.This time, the Cardinal were the ones who went cold, missing their final seven field-goal attempts and scoring just two points in the final 4 minutes and the Bulldogs beat No. 11 Stanford 68-63 on Friday night.Jill Barta made 8 of 10 from the field and finished with 26 points, including two late free throws and Elle Tinkle added 18 points and three blocked shots- including a block on a layup attempt by Brittany McPhee with 24 seconds to play.McPhee made a layup to give Stanford a two-point lead with 4 minutes remaining -- but the Cardinal wouldnt make another field goal.Tinkle made a layup and then assisted on a 3-pointer by Laura Stockton that gave Gonzaga (3-0) a 64-61 lead with 3:07 left. McPhee hit two free throws with 56 seconds left to make it 64-63, but Barta and Stockton made two foul shots apiece in the final 16 seconds to seeal it.ddddddddddddcPhee had 22 points and eight rebounds, while Erica McCall scored 17 with 11 boards for Stanford.The Zags led for 18-plus minutes in the first half and a jumper by Tinkle gave them their biggest lead, 43-33, with 6:24 left in the third quarter.McCall and McPhee scored six points apiece during an 18-3 run -- capped by Karlie Samuelsons 3-pointers -- to close the quarter with a 51-46 advantage.Makenlee Williams hit two 3s and Barta added another to cap a 10-5 spurt that gave Gonzaga a 59-56 lead with 6 minutes left.The Bulldogs made 25 of 50 shots, including 8 of 13 (62 percent) from 3-point range, while Stanford shot 17 percent (3 of 18) from behind the arc and 22 of 58 overall.Stockton, daughter of former Gonzaga guard and Professional Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton, had 12 points, four assists and two steals.There were three ties and three of the games 12 lead changes in the final 6:57. 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