WNBA
Roundup: Leslie carries Sparks to win over Mercury

By The Associated Press

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

Other links WNBA schedule/scoreboard

LOS ANGELES — Lisa Leslie made 11 of 17 shots from the field and scored a season-high 31 points to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to a 73-60 victory over the Phoenix Mercury last night.

Leslie was 9 of 12 from the free-throw line and added seven rebounds for the Western Conference regular-season champions. Nikki Teasley added 13 points and Mwadi Mabika had 11 for the Sparks (24-8).

Los Angeles, which got nine rebounds from Christi Thomas, led 33-32 at halftime. But the Mercury (16-15) could not keep pace after the break, and the Sparks led by as many as 14 points in the second half.

Phoenix was led by Penny Taylor and Anna DeForge with 12 points each. Plenette Pierson added 10 points for the Mercury, which holds a one-game lead over Sacramento in the race for the fourth — and final — West playoff berth. Phoenix and Sacramento each has three games remaining.

Mercury rookie Diana Taurasi, the No. 1 selection in the draft, made 3 of 12 shots and finished with seven points.

The score was tied before Los Angeles used a 9-0 run to move ahead 57-48 with 8:51 to play.

Taylor's three-point play cut the Mercury's deficit to 57-51. Leslie's hook shot and Mabika's fallaway jumper extended the Sparks' lead to 61-51.

Other games

At Comets 70, Lynx 59 — Tina Thompson scored 27 points and Sheryl Swoopes added 15 for Houston (13-18), which beat Minnesota (17-15) to end a four-game losing streak.
 
Nicole Ohlde scored 15 points for the Lynx, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

At Shock 82, Liberty 71 (OT) — Deanna Nolan made a game-tying three-pointer with two seconds left in the second half and defending champion Detroit (16-17) proceeded to overwhelm New York (15-16) in overtime. The Shock can clinch a playoff spot with a win in Sunday's season finale against Charlotte.

Detroit's Swin Cash, who injured her left knee Saturday night in Phoenix, announced after the game that she will miss the rest of the season because of a torn ligament.