Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Sparks grab big road win over the Sun, 87-81

The game featured 12 lead changes and 12 ties, but in the end, Candace Parker was the most impressive feature with 33 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists.

The Sparks are in second place in the Western Conference.

The game was full of stellar performances.

Tina Charles received the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award before the game.

Game notes:

· Tina Charles set a new franchise record with her 51st career double-double tonight. She also extended her franchise record double-figure scoring streak to 20 games.
· Charles set a new career high for field goal attempts (26). Her previous high was 24 at Phoenix (8/7/11) in overtime. The 26 attempts fell three short of the franchise record for field goals attempted (Renee Montgomery had 29 on 8/3/10 at Minnesota in overtime).
· Renee Montgomery scored in double figures off the bench for the seventh time in eight games.
· Tan White had 11 points, including three made threes. The 11 points were the most for White since she scored 14 against Phoenix on August 26, 2011. Her three made threes were the most since she went 5 for 5 at Indiana on July 13, 2011.
· Los Angeles is now 5-7 against Connecticut as the visitor. This was the first time Los Angeles has won at Connecticut since July 24, 2010 (89-80).
· With the Sun leading 81-80 with 1:27 left in the fourth quarter, Nnemkadi Ogwumike scored five straight points down the stretch to seal the Los Angeles victory.
· Connecticut went a combined 1-for-15 from the floor in the last 6:10 of the game, including a stretch where the Sun missed eight straight before Tina Charles hit a go-ahead layup with 1:27 left in the fourth.
· Candace Parker’s all-around game led the Sparks as she compiled 33 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists, five blocks, and three steals. The points were a season high while the rebounds, assists and made threes all tied career highs.
· With 8:44 remaining in the third quarter, Parker grabbed a rebound that gave her five straight games with a double-double.
· Ogwumike hit all seven of her field goal attempts including a perfect four-for-four from the free-throw line to give her 18 points. She fell one made field goal short of the franchise record for made field goals without a miss by an opponent (Jessica Davenport and Kara Lawson both went 8-8 against the Sun).
· The Sparks frontline combination of Parker, Ogwumike, and Jantel Lavender finished 24-for-37 from the floor (64.9%).
· For the third time this season, the Sun finished with five players in double figures.
· The Sun held the Spark’s leading scorer, Kristi Toliver, to a season-low five points on 2-for-10 shooting.

In tonight's other game, the Sky handily beat the Storm, 74-58, for their sixth consecutive win.

Bonus:

The Mystics have cut Dominique Canty and signed Shannon Bobbitt.

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