LESLIE-LESS SPARKS LOSE TO COMETS HOUSTON 79, SPARKS 74.Byline: Ben Villa Staff Writer The Sparks have played two games this week without All-Star center Lisa Leslie WNBA World Ninepin Bowling Association WNBA Wannabe Nasty Boys Association WNBA Women's National Book Association, Inc. WNBA Warszawski Nurt Basketu Amatorskiego champions are not the same team. After struggling to beat Phoenix, the worst team in the Western Conference, on Tuesday, the Sparks lost to the Houston Comets The Houston Comets are a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas. Formed in 1997, the team is one of the original WNBA teams and after winning four championships in the first four years of the league's existence, the Comets are also the first dynasty of 79-74 on Friday night in front of 10,824 at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. . Sheryl Swoopes Sheryl Denise Swoopes (born March 25, 1971) is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the Houston Comets in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She has won three Olympic Gold Medals and is a three-time WNBA MVP. led the Comets (11-8) with 21 points, and Janeth Arcain Janeth dos Santos Arcain (born April 11, 1969 in São Paulo, Brazil) is a Brazilian professional basketball player. She played for the Houston Comets from 1997-2005 in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). added 16. The Sparks still have the league's best record at 16-4, but without Leslie in the middle, their offense has had trouble any sort of rhythm the past two games. ``Lisa is not here, so we can't keep harping on that,'' Sparks coach Michael Cooper ``It's either that or we're going to have to find little guards to come up with the boards. and that would be embarrassing.'' The Sparks still had a chance to make things interesting late in the fourth quarter Friday. They trailed 71-66 after Mwadi Mabika, who led the Sparks with 28 points, scored on an easy bucket with 1:50 left. But needing a stop and a quick score, the Sparks got neither. Swoopes drove past Mabika and was fouled after making a layup, and the Comets had a comfortable 73-66 lead with 1:35 remaining. The Sparks didn't get to within five points after that. Nikki Teasley finished 16 points and DeLisha Milton had 12 for the Sparks. ``I think as guards we can get better on the boards, but we miss Lisa's rebounding and her scoring as well,'' Teasley said. ``We miss her a lot, but everybody has to step up and show us what kind of character we have as a team.'' In the first half, the Sparks led 27-19 before the Comets trimmed the lead to three with a minute to go before halftime. Tina Thompson, who missed the WNBA All-Star Game because of an sprained ankle, returned and scored 13 points for Houston. Ben Villa, (562) 499-1338 ben.villa(at)presstelegram.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The Sparks' DeLisha Milton, right, moves around Houston's Dominique Canty on Friday. The Comets won 79-74. Edna T. Simpson/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion