John Wareham: June 2009 Archives

Ebony Hoffman scored 14 points, and the Indiana Fever matched their season-high with nine 3-pointers to hold off the Sparks 73-61 tonight.

Tamika Catchings had 13 points and Katie Douglas added 11 for the Fever (2-2), who have won two consecutive games, after dropping their first two.

Lisa Leslie led the Sparks (now 1-3) with 21 points and 13 rebounds--her first double-double of the season.

Indiana opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run and closed it with a 13-5 flurry to turn an eight-point halftime lead into a 63-44 lead.

Leading scorer Betty Lennox appeared to injure her right knee early in the second half. Nothing else is known about her injury at this time

After an opening home win, the Sparks have dropped their last three.

The Minnesota Lynx hosted the Sparks and defeated them 87-76, dropping Los Angeles to 1-2.
Former Lynx player Betty Lennox led the Sparks with 25 and Lisa Leslie had 11 points and eight rebounds, but fouled out late in the third quarter. In the same part of the game, the Lynx went on a 16-3 run to erase a Sparks five point lead.

The Lynx led by as many as 12 in the fourth quarter before the Sparks cut the advantage to 80-74 with two minutes left. Candice Wiggins - who had 17 points for Minnesota - then hit a pair of free-throws and the Lynx pulled away.

Seimone Augustus led the Lynx - who have started the season with three straight wins - with 30 points. Minnesota won their first five games last year, but then finished the season tied with the worst record.

Quotes from the players and coaches about last nights game are below:

After winning by 20 on Saturday afternoon, the Sparks traveled to Detroit for the rematch against the Shock and got routed 81-52.
The Shock - still without Cheryl Ford, Plenette Pierson and Kara Braxton - outscored Los Angeles 21-5 in the first quarter and took a commanding 42-16 halftime lead.

Detroit outshot the Sparks 47% to 29% in field goal percentage. Los Angeles only made one of it's first 15 FG attempts.

Tina Thompson was the leading scorer for the Sparks with 14 points and guard Kristi Harrower added 10. Lisa Leslie had only eight points and Betty Lennox - who had 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against the Shock on Saturday - was held to six points and had no rebounds this time.

Deanna Nolan led all scorers with 27 points for Detroit while Katie Smith added 17.

Both teams are now 1-1 and one game behind league leaders Washington, Seattle and Minnesota, who have all started 2-0.

The Sparks join the Phoenix Mercury as the only two teams - so far - to display sponsors names and logos on their jerseys. Whatever adds revenue to the team in these economic times always helps.

The Sparks have a deal with Farmers Insurance Group, while the Mercury had struck a deal with LifeLock, an identity theft protection company.

With Candace Parker (#1), Diana Taurasi of the Mercury (#2) and Lisa Leslie (#3) the top jersey sales and several of the most visible players in the league, its a pretty good business decision as well.

The Sparks did impress with their home win over Detroit on Saturday, even with Leslie having an off-game and Parker still out on maternity. Imagine when they are full strength - so you can have Lennox, Thompson, Leslie and Parker on the court at once. No wonder they were voted the unanimous pick for the title this year.

Here is Thompson against the Shock on Saturday.

Go here for Josh Jovanelly's game story - with more detail and quotes from the players and Cooper.

First home game of the season. Tomorrow (June 6) at Staples. 11:30 a.m. Against Detroit.

You can still get tickets here, or cruise down to Staples and get one on the spot.