SPARKS HIT LOW POINT DROP UNDER .500 AFTER HOME LOSS PHOENIX 66, SPARKS 63.Byline: Earl Williams Earl Williams could refer to:
No one could have predicted that the Sparks would be below .500 seven games into the WNBA WNBA Women's National Basketball Association WNBA World Ninepin Bowling Association WNBA Wannabe Nasty Boys Association WNBA Women's National Book Association, Inc. WNBA Warszawski Nurt Basketu Amatorskiego season. After all, the Sparks (3-4) entered the season as the favorite to win the WNBA title, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a survey by the league's general managers. But they have yet to live up to that billing. A few days after one of their worst performances in franchise history against Sacramento, the Sparks lost to the Phoenix Mercury The Phoenix Mercury is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Phoenix, Arizona and the current WNBA champions. The Mercury began in 1997 as one of the league's original eight teams. The Mercury are named because Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. 66-63 Wednesday night in front of an announced crowd of 7,585 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. . ``Basketball is a game of runs,'' Sparks forward Tamika Whitmore Tamika Whitmore (born on June 5, 1977 in Tupelo, Mississippi) is a professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). College years She played collegiate basketball while attending the University of Memphis on a scholarship. said. ``So you've just got to get stops, and we didn't get the necessary stops we needed at certain times. ``There were inconsistencies with a lot of calls. People can get their heads knocked off, and it's not called. But you just have to play through stuff like that and hope something goes your way. You just have to control what you can control.'' Lisa Leslie The Sparks fell behind 62-55 with 3:52 remaining. After a timeout, they threw the ball away, then scored on their next possession as reserve Christi Thomas made a jump shot. Holdsclaw followed that score with a layup to cut the deficit to 62-59. A steal by Nikki Teasley, who passed the ball to Tamecka Dixon for a fast-break layup, closed the Mercury's lead to one point, 62-61, with 1:54 left. But that was as close as the Sparks got. Plenette Pierson made four free throws in the final 1:35 to give Phoenix a 66-61 lead with 59.1 seconds left. Thomas scored with 41.5 seconds remaining to bring the Sparks back to with three, 66-63. Earl Williams, (562) 499-1338 earl.williams(at)presstelegram.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Sparks' Christi Thomas, right, tries to take ball from Phoenix's Kamila Vodichkova. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer |
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