Leslie Leads the Sparks Over Silver Stars, 81-67
SAN ANTONIO — Lisa Leslie led the Sparks to a two-game Texas sweep Wednesday night, scoring 20 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in an 81-67 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars.
On Tuesday night, Leslie had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a victory in Houston.
“We were very tired tonight. It’s difficult enough to win road games in this league coming off a back-to-back,” Leslie said. “This game just came down to heart, and we wanted it more.”
The Sparks (22-6), who have the best record in the league, won for the ninth time in 10 games. They have clinched a playoff spot. San Antonio (11-14) has lost six of seven to fall 2 1/2 games behind Seattle for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Sparks’ Mwadi Mabika was ejected late in the third quarter for hitting Kendra Wecker in the head after the San Antonio forward backed her out of the lane while fighting for a rebound. Mabika scored 16 points and made four three-point shots.
Vickie Johnson scored 16 points for San Antonio, including her 3,500th career point in the second quarter.
With Mabika in the locker room after her ejection, Leslie had nine points and four rebounds in the fourth quarter.
“To win this type of game, you have to do a better job controlling Lisa Leslie,” Silver Stars Coach Dan Hughes said. “She was dominant down low in the second half.”
The Sparks had a two-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
“That role is the only role I have ever known,” Leslie said of being a team leader. “It is who I am. When I get on the court, I know what I have to do.”
The Silver Stars shot three for 17 in the final period.
The score was tied 2:18 into the second half when the Silver Stars missed their next five shots and fell behind, 52-42, on Chamique Holdsclaw’s mid-range jumper.
Holdsclaw scored 16 points off the bench.
San Antonio called timeout and came back on the floor to make its next four shots, plus the two free throws by Wecker after Mabika’s ejection, to make it 52-52 with 1:16 left in the third.
