Shock-Sparks Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Jun 19 2012 1:03PM

After earning their first win in 10 months, the Tulsa Shock can turn their focus toward ending a lengthy losing streak away from home.

The Shock head to the site of their most recent road win Wednesday night, facing a Los Angeles Sparks team they nearly defeated at Staples Center last month.

Tulsa (1-9) ended a 15-game skid Sunday with an 87-75 victory over Phoenix, the team that started the Shock on their losing streak Aug. 30. Temeka Johnson scored 13 of her team-best 22 points in the fourth quarter, and rookie Riquna Williams had 15 of her career high-tying 19 points during that period.

"I thought we played great in the fourth quarter," coach Gary Kloppenburg said. "We got some defensive stops in the fourth quarter and that gave us a little cushion. We finished with 25 (forced) turnovers. That's a good number for us."

Tulsa has dropped eight straight on the road dating to a 77-75 win over Los Angeles on Aug. 26. The Shock followed with a victory over Connecticut two days later for one of the franchise's two win streaks since relocating from Detroit.

Tulsa's attempt to record a third two-game win streak will come against the Sparks (8-3), whose 5-0 start at home is their best since winning their first seven in 2006. Minnesota is the only other team currently unbeaten on its own floor.

Los Angeles routed Washington 101-70 on Monday in its latest game at Staples with rookie Nneka Ogwumike providing 24 points and seven rebounds in her return. The No. 1 overall draft pick missed a 98-85 loss in San Antonio on Saturday to take part in her graduation from Stanford.

"Nneka is quick; she's athletic," coach Carol Ross said. "She's able to do a lot of things defensively. It allows (Candace) Parker to do a lot of things defensively, as well. They're a good tandem on the defensive end as well as the offensive end. It's great to have her back. I asked her if she was going to be a much smarter player now that she has that degree with that diploma in her hand. I think she was."

Ogwumike was one of five Los Angeles players in double figures (14 points) during a visit from Tulsa on May 29, but the Sparks needed Kristi Toliver's 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 76-75 victory. Toliver committed a WNBA-record 14 turnovers, and the Sparks had 28.

Williams scored 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting in that game, but her Tulsa teammates were a combined 17 for 53 from the floor (32.1 percent).

Sparks topple Shock 95-79

Posted Jun 21 2012 2:00AM

LOS ANGELES (AP) Candace Parker scored 33 points and had a career-high nine blocks and the Los Angeles Sparks remained undefeated at home with a 95-79 victory against the Tulsa Shock on Wednesday night.

The Sparks (9-3) improved to 6-0 at home, their best start since they went 7-0 in 2006.

Parker went 14 for 21 from the field and her 33 points matched a season high.

Kristi Toliver scored 22 points, including 14 for 14 from the free throw line.

Toliver, who had a WNBA-record 14 turnovers on May 29 against Tulsa, had only three turnovers.

The Shock (1-10), who ended a 15-game losing streak Sunday, lost their ninth consecutive road game. Tulsa's last road win came at Los Angeles on Aug. 26, 2011.

Glory Johnson led Tulsa with a season-high 19 points and Temeka Johnson added 11.

Riquna Williams, who scored 15 fourth-quarter points on Sunday, had 10 points on 2 for 12 shooting on Wednesday.

Parker helped respond to two Tulsa rallies in the fourth quarter. Her basket inside pushed the lead to 88-73 after the Shock pulled within nine points with 4:32 remaining.

Tulsa had closed within 10 with 8:25 remaining on Amber Holt's 3-pointer. On the ensuing possession, Parker made a 3-pointer while she was fouled. Parker missed the free throw, but Marissa Coleman got the rebound, and passed to Parker for a finger roll to push the lead to 78-63.

Parker was frustrated at not completing the four-point play but she liked the blocks total.

``I'm going to be able to go home and whip out my thumb to my husband a little bit,'' said Parker, who is married to NBA player Shelden Williams. ``He prides himself on the defensive end. It's always fun to be able to do that.''

Parker's career has been interrupted by injuries and pregnancy the past two seasons, but the Sparks are happy to have her back.

``Unfortunately, for her, it's what people expect,'' Sparks coach Carol Ross said. ``She's got high expectations for herself. She's created a very high standard for excellence. Sometimes she makes 30-something point and nine blocks seem like a routine day at the office.

``For the rest of us, that could be a week's worth of basketball. She has great gifts. Fortunately, tonight, when we needed someone to put us on our back, she was able to carry us through us some rough spots.''

Tulsa played its first game without third-leading scorer Jennifer Lacy, who tore the meniscus in her right knee Sunday and could be out 4 to 6 weeks.

``It hurts us because she shoots the ball so well,'' Tulsa coach Gary Kloppenburg said. ``We're trying to see if we can't get her knee to calm down and maybe use her. We're just in a state of flux right now to see if we can't get that rehabbed and get her back in the lineup this next week.''

Kloppenburg still took positives from the loss despite allowing the Sparks to shoot a season-high 54.8 percent. The Shock's 79 points were the most allowed at home by L.A. this season. Tulsa committed only eight turnovers.

``It's a competitive team that will fight,'' Kloppenburg said. ``They've got some mental toughness and resiliency. We've got some things to build on as we move forward.''

Coleman grabbed five of her six rebounds in the second half.

``Marissa was so key tonight,'' Parker said. ``Her energy, those extra hustle plays, those extra deflections. I think every team needs that. In past games it's come from Nneka (Ogwumike). Today it was Marissa making those extra plays.''

Toliver helped maintain a 10-point lead through three quarters by getting to the free throw line for seven points. She scored eight of the Sparks' 18 points in the third.

Parker scored 17 points in the first half on 7 for 9 shooting from the field to help give the Sparks a 49-39 halftime lead. The Sparks made 20 of 29 field goal attempts in the first half, including 5 for 5 by DeLisha Milton-Jones.

• Shock: --
• Sparks: --

• Shock: Kloppenburg
• Sparks: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Officials: #13 Cameron Inouye, #9 Denise Brooks, #62 Jeff Wooten
• Attendance: 8388
• Duration: 2:08