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Thursday, Jul. 6 10:30pm ET
Sparks extend streak, stay close to Comets | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Ticker) -- Mwadi Mabika scored five points during a game-ending run and nailed a critical 3-pointer as the Los Angeles Sparks won their 11th straight game overall and at home, 79-70 over the Washington Mystics on Thursday. Chamique Holdsclaw completed a three-point play with 2:29 left as the Mystics -- who trailed by 13 in the second half -- closed to 70-67. But that was as close as they would get, suffering their third loss in five contests. Mabika continued her outstanding season by once again delivering in the clutch. Los Angeles held a 73-69 lead when she nailed her third 3-pointer of the contest with 67 seconds left. The win kept the Sparks within one-half game of the Houston Comets for first place in the Western Conference. Los Angeles' overall and home winning streaks are four and two games shy, respectively, of the WNBA records, both held by Houston. Lisa Leslie had 21 points and 13 rebounds and Allison Feaster scored 14 points off the bench for the Sparks, who remained the league's only undefeated home team (8-0) and opened a six-game homestand tonight. "Offensively, I took a deep breath and just knew I needed to do a few more things just to get us over that hump," Leslie said. "I had to have a much better shooting night and I was able to do that." Mabika and DeLisha Milton scored 13 points apiece and Tamecka Dixon added 12 for Los Angeles, which is 5-2 all-time against Washington and 3-0 at the Great Western Forum. "Give credit to these young ladies because they put forth the effort to fight their way back," Sparks coach Michael Cooper said. "This was a game that they could have said, 'Hey, we're too tired. Let's let it go.' But winning breeds strength and they found a way to win." Nikki McCray scored 20 points and Holdsclaw chipped in 16 for Washington, which never led and had its team-record three-game road winning streak halted. Vicky Bullett added 13 points as the Mystics shot just 40 percent (25-of-62) from the field. "We had some fight in the second half and we put ourselves in a position at the end to take the lead," Holdsclaw said. "But we not able to make the big plays defensively." "I think the Sparks present a difficult matchup for us," Mystics coach Nancy Darsch said. "But we did a nice job of plugging away. I am very proud that we hung in there." The Mystics climbed back into the contest thanks to a 13-4 run, closing to 66-64 with 4:55 remaining. Holdsclaw and McCray scored five points apiece and Holdsclaw closed the run on a jump shot. Leslie hit two baskets, the latter with 3:06 remaining, as Los Angeles gained a 70-64 lead with 3:08 left before Holdsclaw's three-point play. | ALSO SEE WNBA Scoreboard RECAPS Orlando 72 Indiana 60
Los Angeles 79
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