Boston News

Thursday night, people were talking about whether the University of Maine women’s basketball team could win a first-round game for the first time in six years. On Friday afternoon, the discussion surrounded the Black Bears’ bid for what would have been the biggest postseason upset in program history.

Top-seeded Boston University survived uncharacteristic offensive struggles and made shots down the stretch to overcome No. 8 UMaine 52-43 in an America East quarterfinal at the University of Hartford’s Chase Arena.

Boston University says Max Nicastro, a defenseman on its men’s hockey team, has been arrested on a sexual assault charge. More >

An alert officer making a transaction at an ATM in downtown Boston apprehended a bank robber immediately after the suspect robbed the bank. More >

With Dave Brock, Ben Sirmans, Ryan Day and Jeff Comissiong all leaving the Boston College football staff in the past week, Spaz will have to quickly reload the coaching staff to keep the momentum going for next year’s recruiting class. More >

Reigning Boston Marathon champions Geoffrey Mutai and Caroline Kilel lead the field of elite runners for the 116th edition of the event.

The men’s elite field announced by organizers Thursday includes last year’s third-place finisher and 2010 New York City champion Gebre Gebremariam; 2010 Boston champion Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot; 2011 Amsterdam and Rotterdam winner Wilson Chebet; and 2011 Chicago second and third place finishers Wesley Korir and Bernard Kipyego. Jason Hartman and Antonio Vega are the only Americans in the elite field.

The hacking collective Anonymous is claiming credit for defacing the Boston Police Department’s website. A message posted Friday said, “Anonymous hacks Boston Police website in retaliation for police brutality at OWS.” That’s apparently a reference to Occupy Wall Street.

Police are working to restore the website. A police spokesman would not confirm Anonymous was responsible. The website was replaced by another site called “antisec.”

Boston Scientific Corp reported lower quarterly earnings and gave a disappointing outlook on Thursday as sales declined in its two biggest businesses, cardiac rhythm management and interventional cardiology, and its shares fell by as much as 7.6 percent. More >

Globe reporters are covering the procession and funeral service today for former Mayor Kevin H. White, as residents say goodbye to the political giant who led the city from 1968 to 1984, changing the city’s skyline while grappling with turbulent times.

The procession began at 10 a.m. at the Parkman House, the city’s mansion on Beacon Hill, where thousands turned out Tuesday to pay their respects. The funeral service began about an hour later at St. Cecilia’s Church.

In a Super Bowl throwdown, Mayor Bloomberg and his Boston counterpart agreed to give a family of four from the winning side a dream trip to the losing city. But when the Daily News estimated the tab for the all-expenses-paid trip, Bloomberg stands to fork over a lot more for a Giants’ loss than Boston Mayor Thomas Menino would for a Patriots’ defeat.

If the Pats win, Bloomberg’s offer includes dinners at the Russian Tea Room and B. Smith’s restaurant, and club seats at the Garden for a Knicks or Rangers game.

Lawyers for Children’s Hospital Boston have asked a Massachusetts judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by 11 former patients of a renowned pediatrician who they say sexually abused them in North Carolina.

The plaintiffs say the hospital could have prevented alleged abuse by the late Dr. Melvin Levine if it had reported accusations of abuse that arose while he worked in Boston from 1966 to 1985.

Levine killed himself last year after he was sued by alleged victims in Boston, where he was accused giving medically unnecessary genital exams to dozens of boys.