Quest Remains on a Mission at Home

Tonya Edwards tied her career high with 27 points as the Columbus Quest won its 10th consecutive home game, defeating the Colorado Xplosion, 91-72, at Columbus, Ohio, before 3,156.

The victory ended a two-game losing streak for Columbus (20-7), which has never lost three straight games in the team’s two-year history.

Katie Smith added 24 points and Valerie Still 17 for the Eastern Conference leaders. Still also led both teams with eight rebounds.

Crystal Robinson scored 25, Tari Phillips and Edna Campbell 12 and Keisha Anderson 11 for Colorado (11-15), which is 0-8 against the Quest.

Columbus took a 17-6 lead with 2:31 left in the first quarter, but Colorado used a 15-4 run to tie the score at 21 with 8:12 left in the first half.

The Quest outscored the Xplosion 20-7 for the rest of the half to take a 41-28 halftime lead. Colorado closed to 45-41 with 6:29 left in the third quarter, but could get no closer.

The biggest lead for the Quest came at 87-65 with 3:31 to play.

San Jose 72, Seattle 65--The Lasers won their ninth consecutive game before 3,479 at Seattle, and handed the Reign its 10th consecutive loss, one shy of the ABL record set by Portland last season.

Despite having three starters foul out, San Jose (15-13) held on in the waning moments as Shellie Sandie made four free throws in the final 30 seconds to hold off the Reign after Seattle had pulled within three points.

Clarisse Machanguana was the first Laser to foul out, picking up her sixth foul with 4:54 to play. Jennifer Azzi followed with her sixth with 1:47 left, and Katryna Gaither fouled out with 37 seconds remaining.

Azzi and Sheri Sam each scored 18 points to lead the Lasers. Shalonda Enis scored 21 points and nearly tied the ABL record by grabbing 19 rebounds for the Reign. Val Whiting contributed 11 points for Seattle.

Seattle (6-21) only shot 25% from the field in the second half.