Great Ball Movement Key to Sparks Victory Over San Antonio 101-77

Story by L.T.Willis

The Los Angeles Sparks played physical against the
San Antonio Silver Stars. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

The Los Angeles Sparks are now (18-6) with a impressive victory over a team to seem to have their number this year the San Antonio Silver Stars (16-6) 101-77.What was impressive was the ball movement from the Sparks players and the defensive pressure that the team showed on the floor, creating easy shots with the extra pass had the fans buzzing all night. If you would have told me that the Sparks would beat San Antonio by 34 points and Candace Parker scored only 6 points and 10 rebounds, i would have look at you like yeah right.

The Sparks' #30 Nneka Ogwumike challenges a
shot by  San Antonio's # 25 Becky Hammon.
Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The Sparks on the night didn't look like a team that had to prove a point, they sent a message not only to the San Antonio Silver Stars, but to the WNBA League that the Sparks are not a one or two star team. This team has 9 new faces on it's roster and and new head coach in Carol Ross who have stamp defense in her players mind, and it is paying off in victories for the Sparks.

The Sparks' #0 Alana Beard steals the ball from San Antonio's
#50 Tangela Smith. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

In the first half the Sparks defense kept in check San Antonio's Sophia Young with 6 points, Danielle Robinson had 12 points and Sophia Young only 6 points allowing them to have a 59-35 lead at half time. The Sparks' Alana Beard 6 for 8 shooting and Kristi Toliver 5 for 8 shooting both had 16 points at the half, while DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 8 points, Nneka Ogwumike and Jantel Lavender both had 6 points also.

The Sparks' #16 Ebony Hoffman and the
other forwards on the team held  San
Antonio's #33 Sophia Young to 9
points for the game. Photo by
Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The Sparks ball movement was so great in the first half they made 60% of their shots, 77.8% from three point range and 90.9% from the free throw line and only committed 6 turnovers. You could see on the Sparks' player faces not only were they beating a very good team, but they were having fun on the court as well. Coach Ross and her coaching staff would not let them lose focus because of the big lead they had at half time.

The Sparks' #3 Candace Parker scored 6 points , 10
rebounds and 6 assist. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

The third quarter wasn't no better for San Antonio as the Sparks' defense was swarming all over the floor never gaving them a  chance to get any kind of offense establish during the game. The Sparks' Kristi Toliver was in a zone had 29 points with 10 for 14 shooting , and it didn't matter who was guarding her the shot was going down. The San Antonio Silver Stars had no answer on defense to slow down the offensive frenzy that the Sparks were in. At the end of the third Candace Parker had only 6 points. The Sparks ended the third quarter with a 87-58 lead.

The Sparks' #20 Kristi Toliver scored 29
points shooting 10 for 14 for the game.
Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The Los Angeles Sparks defeated San Antonio 101-77 with  a great team effort from everybody who played tonight. If the Sparks can play like they did tonight, or come close too it every night and take care of the ball, they will be a hard team to beat in the WNBA. San Antonio's Daniella Robinson led her team in scoring with 22 points, Shenise Johnson 15 points, Danielle Adams 10 points and Becky Hammon was held to just 5 points with 2 for 10 shooting for the game.

The Sparks' #0 Alana Beard had a great
night scoring 21 points shooting 8 for 12
from the floor. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

The Sparks' # 16 Ebony Hoffman
had a good night off the bench
scored 9 points. Photo by Eric
Wade/T.G.Sports.

The Sparks' Kristi Toliver finish the night with 29 points, Alana Beard 21 points, DeLisha Milton-Jones 14 points, Ebony Hoffman off the bench was getting back her to her shooting form had 9 points shooting 4 for 6 from the floor and Jantel Lavender 8 points shooting 4 for 6 from the floor to give a strong performance off the bench also. All photos are by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports and EW Gems Images.