LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Houston Comets blocked Los Angeles star
center Lisa Leslie, but they couldn't keep the Sparks from flying.
L.A. beat the Comets 65-54 Saturday, extending their WNBA-record winning
streak to 18 games.
The Comets used zone defense in the first 30 minutes to contain
Leslie. The league's second-leading scorer was plagued by fouls and
finished with seven points in 23 minutes, equaling her season low.
"Its the first time we've seen 30 minutes of a zone," Leslie
said. "I thought we adjusted very well, especially in the second
half. It allowed them to triple-team me inside. They wanted to shut
down our inside game. They wanted to force us to beat them from the
outside and we did."
Los Angeles got its biggest lead, 47-34, with 11:41 to play
after Leslie made a nine-foot turnaround jump shot and completed
the three-point play with a free throw.
Leslie did not return to the game after picking up her fifth
foul with 9:08 to play and the Sparks leading, 47-38.
Forward Mwadi Mabika and backup center Latasha Byears
compensated. Mabika scored 22 points, one short of a season-high.
Byears pulled down a career-high equaling 17 rebounds.
A 13-2 run early in the second half gave the Sparks the lead for
good. Mabika began the spurt with back-to-back three-point baskets.
Los Angeles out-rebounded Houston 43-24.
The Sparks (27-3) shot a season-low .304, making 21 of 69 shots.
The 21 field goals also tied a season low.
But the Comets also struggled with their shooting, making just
33.9 percent of their 59 shots.
"It's hard to win a game when you're 20 for 59," Houston coach
Van Chancellor said.
Janeth Arcain got 20 points for Houston, including 16 in the
second half. Tina Thompson added 11 and Tiffani Johnson 10 for the
visitors.
DeLisha Milton added 11 and Ukari Figgs 10 for the Sparks, who
completed regular-season play with a 16-0 home record.
"This is the first step to greatness," Los Angeles coach
Michael Cooper said.
The Sparks had already clinched home-court advantage throughout
the playoffs, which begin Thursday.
The victory also extended Los Angeles WNBA-record home-court
winning streak to 22 games over the past two seasons, including the
final six of last season at the Forum, its former home.
Houston fell into a tie for second with idle Utah in the race
for second place in the Western Conference and home-court advantage
in the first round of the playoffs.
Both teams have two games remaining. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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ALSO SEE
WNBA Scoreboard
Houston team page
Los Angeles team page
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