|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
| |
|||
| Sparks win WNBA-record 18th straight at home |
|||
| RECAP | BOX SCORE | |||
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- As Lisa Leslie goes, so go the Los Angeles Sparks. She felt sluggish in the first half and her teammates played the same way.
But Leslie talked herself into a good game in time for the
Sparks to beat the Sacramento Monarchs 67-62 Thursday night for
their 14th consecutive victory and WNBA-record 18th in a row at
home.
Leslie scored 23 points -- including 11 in a row in the second
half -- and hit the winning free throw with 1:29 remaining.
"I didn't want to play basketball today," she said. "I
should've been more mentally prepared. I found a way to dig down
and not let this moment pass me by. That's the difference between
me last year and this year."
The Sparks trailed by 11 in the first half and by 10 in the
second half before rallying to tie twice in the final three minutes
in front of 8,554 at Staples Center.
"I'd rather have these games now than in the playoffs," said
DeLisha Milton, who added 12 points for the Sparks. "We learn how
to adjust so we'll be prepared."
Los Angeles, which not lost at home since July 11, 2000,
improved its WNBA-best record to 23-3 with six games remaining
before the playoffs begin.
"We want to go into the playoffs with the momentum we've had,"
said Ukari Figgs, who scored 10 points. "You don't want to know
that feeling of defeat again."
Sacramento lost all three games against the Sparks this season,
including a two-point defeat July 25 when Figgs stole the rebound
of a missed free throw and ran out the clock.
"I don't have many thoughts about the game. In fact, I'm going
to just absolutely put it out of my mind," Sacramento coach Maura
McHugh said. "We just have yet to put 40 minutes against the
Sparks. We just haven't done it and that's why we haven't won."
Latasha Byears tied the game at 62 before Leslie got fouled. She
missed the first and made the second for a 63-62 lead.
Edna Campbell, who led Sacramento with 21 points, drove the
baseline and got the ball knocked out of bounds with 14.4 seconds
left. Yolanda Griffith missed before the shot clock expired.
"It's frustrating to have a team down and then let them back
into the game," Griffith said. "We felt we had their number. But
we will be ready for them when the playoffs come."
The Monarchs fouled Figgs, who made both for a 65-62 lead with
12.5 seconds left. Campbell, who hit five 3-pointers in the second
half, including four in a row, missed and Byears grabbed the
rebound and was fouled with 1.3 seconds left. She made both to
close out the game between the WNBA's two highest scoring teams.
"We didn't panic," said Byears, who added 10 points. "I knew
we would be fine."
Tangela Smith and Kedra Holland-Corn each added 12 for the
Monarchs, who have dropped three in a row on the road.
With the Sparks trailing by 10, Leslie singlehandedly brought
them back by scoring 11 points in a row as part of a 13-2 run.
Five of her points came on consecutive sequences. She scored
inside and was fouled. She missed the free throw, but grabbed the
rebound, scored, drew another foul and made the free throw.
Leslie added a basket and four free throws and Byears scored by
flipping the ball behind her head and into the net as the Sparks
regained the lead 49-48 with 10 minutes remaining.
"We had to have a run and that was the difference," Leslie
said. "This was a moment of urgency. It sets the tone for everyone
to be aggressive. I have to show by example."
The teams exchanged one-point leads for the next several minutes
before Figgs drove the baseline for a layup that tied it at 60.
The Sparks trailed by 11 in the first half when they committed
10 turnovers. They rallied to score eight of the final 10 points
and trailed 32-27 at halftime.
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |
|
ALSO SEE WNBA Scoreboard Sacramento team page Los Angeles team page AUDIO/VIDEO   Nicky McCrimmon starts the break with a block and finishes it off with an assist to Mwadi Mabika.avi: 1350 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN Cable Modem The Sparks' Latasha Byears drives to the hoop and ties the game at 62.avi: 1260 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN Cable Modem The Monarchs' Edna Campbell knocks down one of her five second-half three-pointers.avi: 764 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN Cable Modem | |
|
|