Sun-Silver Stars Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Aug 29 2011 5:56PM

Six-time WNBA All-Star Becky Hammon continues to come up short for a San Antonio Silver Stars team on the verge of its longest losing streak in nearly six seasons.

Hammon and the Silver Stars look to avoid a seventh consecutive defeat when they host the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night.

Two days after missing all eight shots and failing to score at WNBA-leading Minnesota, Hammon - first on the team and tied for 11th in the league with 15.3 points per game - recorded nine on 1-of-12 shooting as San Antonio (13-15) lost 72-61 on Sunday to conclude a home-and-home set with the Lynx.

Hammon has scored 8.2 points per game over her last five while shooting 22.2 percent from the floor.

Since defeating Connecticut 72-59 on Aug. 11, the Silver Stars have dropped six straight while averaging 68.0 points - 8.8 less than their season mark. They haven't lost seven in a row since closing the 2005 season on a franchise record-tying nine-game skid.

Despite the recent struggles, Hammon remains confident in San Antonio's ability to turn things around.

"We've been through a rough patch, no doubt. I think we just have to find a way to get there mentally," she said. "Everybody's tired at this point in the season. ... We're gonna get the monkey off our back, we just have to stay strong in our belief, in yourself and in one another.

"These things happen in professional sports, but we're gonna get back on track on Tuesday."

San Antonio continues to cling to the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, sitting 1 1/2 games ahead of Los Angeles.

"I mean, big-picture situation, our season is to be determined," coach Dan Hughes said. "They have ownership in that. It's not an easy thing. You're fighting some momentum that's going the other way. The only way you make a change is by yourself and taking ownership of it and going forward."

While the Sun (18-11) have all but locked up a postseason berth in the East for the first in three seasons, they're coming off an unlikely defeat, 83-72 at league-worst Tulsa on Sunday.

Tina Charles posted her 19th double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, but she was held scoreless in the fourth quarter as Connecticut suffered its third straight road loss.

The Sun, who find themselves 1 1/2 games behind East-leading Indiana, host the Fever on Friday night.

Sun 66, Silver Stars 78

Posted Aug 30 2011 11:37PM

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Becky Hammon moved into the WNBA record books and put an end to the San Antonio Silver Stars' skid.

Hammon scored 16 points to lead the Silver Stars past the Connecticut Sun 78-66 on Tuesday night to end a six-game losing streak. She became the seventh player in WNBA history to score 5,000 career points when she hit a free throw with 2:23 remaining in the second quarter. Hammon now has 5,008 points.

Connecticut (18-12) lost its second straight game, but still earned its first playoff berth since 2008 thanks to Chicago's loss to New York.

``The win,'' Hammon said when asked which was bigger, the victory or her 5,000th point. ``The win is a huge monkey off our back.''

The Silver Stars swept the season series against the Sun.

Sophia Young and Jia Perkins each scored 15 points for the Silver Stars (14-15), who increased their lead to two games over Los Angeles for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.

Tina Charles scored 16 points and Asjha Jones had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Connecticut.

San Antonio has won only three of the last 13 games, but held the Sun to 25 of 64 shooting. San Antonio outrebounded Connecticut 38-33.

The Sun pulled within eight points with 35.3 seconds left on Charles' layup, but Hammon hit four straight free throws to put the game out of reach.

``I think what she's achieving is utterly amazing to me,'' Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said. ``People don't understand how hard Becky Hammon has worked at the game since she came into the league.''

The Silver Stars hit 15 of 29 shots from the field in the second half, taking their biggest lead at 53-34 on Young's jumper in the lane with 4:34 left in the third quarter. San Antonio hit 9 of 15 shots in the quarter while holding Connecticut to 5 of 16.

Although the Sun made the playoffs, coach Mike Thibault wasn't happy with they way they made it.

``It doesn't feel real good,'' Thibault said. ``You'd rather win to get in. I don't like backing in. We knew we were going to get in eventually, but it's not a fun way to have it happen.''

Neither team shot well in the first half, with the Silver Stars going 14 of 38 and the Sun hitting 10 of 32. But San Antonio was able to finish the half on a 9-2 run to take a 38-28 lead.

The Silver Stars held the Sun to 4 of 17 shooting to take a 21-14 lead after the first quarter. Ruth Riley scored five straight points and Hammon followed with a 3-pointer to help the Silver Stars go ahead 8-0.

Thibault received a technical foul in the quarter for running out to halfcourt to argue with the referees.

Hammon's 3-point play in the second quarter, with the free throw giving her the 5,000th point, put the Silver Stars up 32-26. Kalana Greene followed with a layup for Connecticut, but Robinson and Perkins combined for six straight points to close the half.

• Sun: --
• Silver Stars: --

• Sun: Thibault
• Silver Stars: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
• Officials: #55 Eric Brewton, #24 Tony Dawkins, #34 Maj Forsberg
• Attendance: 6934
• Duration: 1:57