StingRays Fall to Xplosion, 88-68

Tari Phillips scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Colorado Xplosion to an 88-68 victory over the StingRays on Sunday in a first round ABL playoff series.

With 3:50 remaining, Phillips’ layup sparked a key 11-0 run that put Colorado ahead 82-61.

The teams are now tied at a game apiece in the best-of-3 series. The deciding game will be played Wednesday at the Pyramid.

Vicki Hall finished with 20 points and Edna Campbell had 18 for the Xplosion. Crystal Robinson added 11.

Yolanda Griffith led Long Beach with 17 points and eight rebounds. Beverly Williams added 15 and Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil had 11.

Sunday’s outcome was an abrupt about face from Saturday’s game, which Long Beach won, 97-72, at to Pond of Anaheim.

The Xplosion pushed the margin to 28-18 with 7:41 left in the second quarter with Robinson’s jumper and took a 36-32 lead into halftime.

Long Beach rallied in the third to within 47-44 on Davis-Wrightsil’s three-pointer at 6:13 of the third quarter, but then slipped to 60-52 at the end of the period.