SPARKS STAY FRESH, RUN THROUGH MYSTICS : SPARKS 81 WASHINGTON 64.Byline: Pamela Lewis Staff Writer Playing their second game in as many days, the Sparks, no question the hottest team in 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 , never relinquished control. They won their sixth game in a row Saturday to end their longest homestand of the season, outplaying Chamique Holdsclaw Chamique Shaunta Holdsclaw (born August 9, 1977 in Astoria, Queens, New York) is a former professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She announced her retirement from the Los Angeles Sparks on June 11, 2007. and the Washington Mystics The Washington Mystics is a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. They started play in 1998, the second year of the WNBA and are one of the WNBA's first expansion franchises. 81-64 in front of 7,716 at the Forum. The Sparks, who defeated Utah just 24 hours earlier, matched their longest winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" . They are 16-6 and in second place in the Western Conference. They have won 13 of their last 15 games. The Sparks stretched a five-point halftime lead to 21 in the second half and never looked back. ``The starters did a great job starting off the second half,'' 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. ``They really jumped on them good. The defense stepped up.'' Holdsclaw, the WNBA's top draft pick who averages 17.6 points per game, saw different defenders with La'Keisha Frett and 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. switching to guard the game's most celebrated rookie. She finished with 15 points, although 11 came late in the second half after the Sparks had the game sealed. She was held to 7 of 20 shooting. ``I thought I got some great looks, but they just didn't go in,'' said Holdsclaw, the four-time All-American from Tennessee. ``As far as the defense goes, every time I went off the screen there were two people there and it made it tough at times.'' This was Frett's second toughest assignment this week. On Tuesday, she held Charlotte's top scorer Nykesha Sales Nykesha Simone Sales (born May 10, 1976 in Bloomfield, Connecticut) is a professional basketball player for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA. Her primary position is the small forward. Her second position is shooting guard. scoreless. ``I thought Frett did an excellent job on Chamique Holdsclaw,'' Woolridge said. ``I thought she did a great job containing her.'' Said Frett: ``First of all I thought we played good team defense. My teammates helped. I just tried to pay attention to what she likes to do. I know she has a nice crossover. It's just part of the work.'' Lisa Leslie had 15 points, Frett added 12 and DeLisha Milton had 10. The Sparks shot 54 percent from the field. All 11 players saw action and the bench added 30 points in the victory. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: The Sparks' Mwadi Mabika, left, hounds Nikki McCray. Chris Pizzello/Associated Press |
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