SPARKS DEFENSE COOLS MERCURY : SPARKS 67, PHOENIX 58.Byline: Pamela Lewis Staff Writer The Sparks let their defense do the work, returning to the win column with a 67-58 victory over Phoenix on Sunday in front of 6,392 at the Forum. It was the Sparks' seventh win in their past eight games. DeLisha Milton led Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. with 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals, but more importantly held the Mercury's top scorer, Jennifer Gillom Jennifer Gillom (born June 13, 1964 in Abbeville, Mississippi) is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002. Gillom played college basketball in the University of Mississippi and helped the United States Basketball Team to a gold , to only 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting. ``DeLisha is one of the best forwards I've seen,'' Sparks coach Orlando Woolridge Orlando Vernada Woolridge (born December 16 1959 in Bernice, Louisiana) is a former professional basketball player in the NBA. Woolridge played collegiate basketball at the University of Notre Dame. said. ``Her defensive effort was probably the key for us today. The Sparks trailed 29-26 at the half, but were close unlike their previous slow start, which ended in a loss to Sacramento on Friday. Also, as promised, Woolridge implemented a new lineup, with La'Keisha Frett and Gordana Grubin replacing Penny Toler Penny Toler (born March 24, 1966) was a Women's National Basketball Association basketball player. She is currently the general manager of the Los Angeles Sparks. College years Toler attended Long Beach State and was a All-American basketball player. and Tamecka Dixon. The change proved effective, particularly with the 6-foot-3 Frett creating mismatches for Phoenix. She had eight points, seven rebounds and five assists. Her game has improved recently, which justified her move to the starting position. As far as starting, Frett said it doesn't matter, just as long as the team wins. ``I just think of it as coming off the bench earlier,'' said Frett, who blamed tendinitis tendinitis or tendonitis Inflammation of a tendon sheath, due to irritation of this thin, filmy tissue by overuse of the tendons, which slide within them, or to bacterial infection. in her left knee for her slow start this season. ``I just go out there and play hard.'' With both teams struggling offensively, the game turned into a defensive battle with the Sparks taking control in the second half. After Bridgett Pettis hit two consecutive 3-pointers for the Mercury, Lisa Leslie |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion