Sparks Win One for Road

The Sparks hate to leave Staples Center for the next 21 days, but they are leaving their comfort zone in good shape.

An almost routine 70-62 victory over the New York Liberty at Staples Center on Tuesday was their sixth straight. The Sparks (19-5) also maintained their four-game lead over Sacramento in the Western Conference.

But now the Sparks are heading out for their longest trip, an eight-game trek that begins Friday at Detroit.

“This is going to be a great test for us and show the character this team has,” said Lisa Leslie, who had 20 points and 11 rebounds for her 12th double-double.

“It’s not just eight games; there are two ‘back to backs’ starting this weekend. And going to play teams back to back that really have high energy.”

Jessica Moore, who had a career-high 11 points for the Sparks, said the team is looking to maintain its consistency.

“We understand it is going to be very, very hard for us to go to all these different places,” Moore said. “But I think if we just stay together, stay as a team and not get rattled ... I think we’ll be OK.”

Despite 18 points by Shameka Christon and 17 from Kelly Schumacher, it was another frustrating night for Liberty Coach Pat Coyle, who has overseen what could be the worst record in franchise history.

While admitting the expectations this season for the Liberty (4-17) may have been too high --”we may have underestimated the experience factor” -- Coyle keeps hammering at her young team that there is still a chance to catch Washington for the fourth and final playoff berth if the Liberty can get on any kind of roll.

“We talk about it all the time,” Coyle said. “I mean; we’ve lost eight in a row and we’re still not out of it. But we have three good quarters. Then we have one bad quarter and it kills us.”

On Tuesday, it was the third quarter. New York was down only 35-26 at halftime, but the Sparks held them scoreless for the first 5:37. By the end of the third quarter, the Sparks were comfortably ahead, 56-37, and would lead by as many as 23 points in the fourth before New York rallied late.

Before the game, the Sparks announced the signing of 6-foot-3 rookie forward Tiffany Stansbury to a seven-day contract.

Stansbury, originally drafted by Houston, temporarily replaces rookie Emmeline Ndongue, who has decided to return to her native France.

Coach Joe Bryant also said Christi Thomas, sidelined by a cartilage tear in her left knee, could return when the Sparks travel to Houston on Tuesday.

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Hitting the road

The Sparks, with a 19-5 record and a four-game lead over second-place Sacramento, play their next eight games on the road (opponent’s overall and home records in parentheses):

Friday at Detroit (14-6, 7-1)

* Saturday at Indiana (15-8, 9-1)

* Tuesday at Houston (13-11, 9-2)

* July 26 at San Antonio (11-11, 4-5)

* July 30 at Seattle (11-11, 7-6)

* Aug. 1 at Washington (11-10, 8-2)

* Aug. 3 at Connecticut (15-6, 8-2)

* Aug. 5 at Phoenix (9-12, 6-5)

Source: WNBA