SPARKS RESERVE HELPS TIP ROCKERS : SPARKS 74, CLEVELAND 62.Byline: Roland Queen Akron Beacon Journal The Akron Beacon Journal is a morning newspaper in Akron, Ohio, and published by Black Press Ltd.. It is the sole daily newspaper in Akron and is distributed throughout Northeast Ohio. The paper places a strong emphasis on local news and business. Cleveland Rockers The Cleveland Rockers was a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which started in 1997. The owner was Gordon Gund, who at the time also owned the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. center Janice Lawrence Braxton Janice Lawrence Braxton (born June 7, 1962) is an American professional basketball player. She won a gold medal with the USA Women's Olympic basketball team in 1984. She spent two seasons playing for the Cleveland Rockers in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). said earlier in the week that she wasn't in awe of Sparks standout Lisa Leslie But Braxton also warned that 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. wasn't a one-woman team. And the Sparks proved that. After the Rockers pulled to within two points four times late in the game, Sparks reserve Mwadi Mabika Mwadi Mabika (born July 27, 1976 in Kinshasa, Zaire (present Democratic Republic of the Congo)) is a Congolese basketball player and an All-Star in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She studied biology and chemistry at the Massamba School in Kinshasa. scored six points off the bench to help Los Angeles pull away to a 74-62 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 victory before 7,414. But it was the battle of shoves, elbows and some heated verbal exchanges between Braxton and Leslie that drew most of the attention after the game. Both players refused to back down and their statistics showed it. Leslie showed her versatility by scoring a game-high 19 points to go with seven rebounds, two assists, four steals and three blocked shots. Braxton, however, just missed a triple-double by finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight steals to lead the Rockers. ``I'm a player who can play the game the way you play,'' said Leslie. ``If you want to play clean, I'll play clean. If you want to play dirty, I can play dirty. I'm not saying (Braxton) was playing dirty. We just battled each other.'' But twice in the second half, the two exchanged words. The last time was after Braxton hit the floor after the two bumped hard and Leslie extended a hand to help her up. Braxton made it clear she didn't want her help. ``I can't repeat what she said,'' Leslie said of Braxton's comment. ``It was like, `Don't touch me.' And I said, `Fine, however you want.' ``But it's the game of basketball. And maybe there were a few elbows. But if I knock you down, once the whistle has blown, I believe in helping up another player.'' Braxton, of course, had her version. But the bottom line seemed to be that she felt the officials were giving Leslie preferential treatment, due to star treatment. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Sparks center Zheng Haixia is double-teammed and double-fouled by Cleveland's Isabelle Fijalkowski, left, and Janice Braxton. Associated Press |
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