San Antonio Defeats Sparks 91-71 At Home

Story by L.T.Willis

San Antonio's # 20 Shameka Christon scored 16 points in a victory
over the Sparks 91-71 at the Staple Center. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

The Los Angeles Sparks are now (10-5) after losing at home to the San Antonio Silver Stars (6-5) 91-71 behind the performance of Sophia Young 20 points 9 rebounds and Shemeka Christon 16 points for the game. The Sparks were out hustle and out rebounded in the game and never could get any defensive stops to get back into the game. Back to back games are part of playing basketball so the players still have to go out and compete, but the Sparks just couldn't match their energy.

Sparks' #8 DeLisha Milton-Jones scored
13 points against the Silver Stars. Photo
by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

Silver Stars' # 23 Danielle Adams size and
speed was too much for the Sparks.
Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports

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The Silver Stars starters matched up well against the Sparks starting five and may explain the poor shooting of the Sparks on the night. The Sparks trailed 26-20 in the first quarter and in the second quarter the Sparks defense held San Antonio to 16 points in the second quarter too help stay close. The Sparks big three  Kristi Toliver, Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike were struggling from the floor and just couldn't get any rhythm going on offense and now trailed San Antonio 42-36 at the half.

San Antonio's # 25 Becky Hammon and # 23 Danielle
Adams. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G. Sports.

The Sparks' bench with Jantel Lavender who only played about seven minutes had no points and April Sykes who finish the the night with 11 points and Melissa Coleman 4 points just wasn't enough production and with the poor shooting from the starters, the Silver Stars were pulling away from the Sparks late in the third quarter with about 40 seconds left leading 68-55. You could see it in the swagger of the Sparks they were just tired.

The Sparks defense couldn't slow down Becky Hammon
from scoring 12 points and 10 assist. Photo by
Eric Wade/T/G.Sports.

Sparks' #24 April Sykes scored
11 points and 4 rebounds off
the bench  for the Sparks.
Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports

What was surprising about the game was the turnovers from both sides were very low especially from the Sparks who seemed tired from the beginning of the game committed only 11 turnovers and San Antonio only 9 turnovers. San Antonio defeated the Sparks by 20 points 91-71 and gave them their first lost at home of the season. Poor shooting from Nneka Ogwumike 4 for12 10 points 5 rebounds, Candace Parker 6 for17 15 points 15 rebounds, Kristi Toliver 3 for 14 8 points, April Sykes 4 for10 11 points and DeLisha Milton-Jones 6 for 9 with 13 points for the game.

San Antonio's #33 Sophia Young Had a big night
against the Sparks with 20 points and 9 rebounds.
Photo by Eric Wade/ T.G.Sports.

San Antonio's Sophia Young led both teams in scoring with 20 points 9 rebounds and team mates Shemeka Christon 16 points, Danielle Adams 14 points and Becky Hammon 12 points 10 assists. The Sparks offense struggles sometimes because of matchup problems against other teams and injuries to their roster. Alana Beard should be playing the point and Kristi Toliver the shooting guard which is her natural position you can still see she is thinking basketball and not playing basketball which effects her game.

The Silver Stars were more physical than the Sparks
during the game. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

Jantel Lavender who proved last season she can give you double digits in scoring and rebounds would give the Sparks  more of a physical threat from the perimeter, the paint and defense with younger legs who prove she could run with best of the centers in the WNBA. With this move  letting DeLisha Milton- Jones coming off the bench she can the Sparks the fire power they need with Ebony Hoffman and Nicky Anosike  still out for weeks, and keep her legs fresher so she doesn't have to bang with all the younger forwards in the league. All photos are by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports and EW Gems Images.