A Double Dose of Bad News for the Blizzard

Shalonda Enis scored 10 of her 18 points in the third quarter Saturday to lead the undefeated Seattle Reign to a 85-69 victory over the New England Blizzard before 3,827 at Seattle.

Seattle extended its franchise-best winning streak to five with the victory.

The Reign opened a 23-point lead in the first half, only to have New England pull within 10 on two free throws by Jannon Roland. That’s when Enis went to work with five baskets to help the lead climb back to 22.

Kate Starbird added five points in that third-quarter spurt and finished with a game-high 21. Enis had 18 points.

New England was led by Carolyn Young with 19 points. But Young, the only member of the Blizzard averaging in double figures, left the game with 5:04 left after a hard collision in the paint.

Young, the ABL’s all-time leading scorer, tore ligaments in her right knee and will miss the rest of the season.

Columbus 82, Colorado 67--Tonya Edwards scored 33 points for the Quest before 3,316 at Denver.

Edwards was 11-of-19 shooting with six three-point baskets as the Quest won their 10th straight regular-season victory against the Xplosion. Colorado has never beaten two-time ABL champions Columbus.

Shannon Johnson was the only other Quest player scoring in double figures with 14 points and also led the team with eight rebounds.

Tari Phillips led the Xplosion with 17 points and 13 rebounds, followed by Edna Campbell’s 14 points. Crystal Robinson finished with 11.

Philadelphia 76, Chicago 59--Cass Bauer had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and the Rage used a 14-4 run in the final period to beat the Condors before 1,380 at Philadelphia and set a franchise record with their fifth straight victory.

Philadelphia, which shot a woeful 31% in the first half, broke the game open with the crucial run over a 3:46 stretch. The Rage--missing only one of 10 shots--outscored the Condors, 28-13, in the quarter.

Teresa Edwards had 17 points for Philadelphia.

Portland 91, San Jose 83--Natalie Williams scored 30 points to lead the Power at Portland, Ore.

Williams, the ABL’s MVP last season, also had 11 rebounds, two blocked shots and five assists.

Charlotte Smith came off the bench to lead San Jose with 21 points, 17 in the fourth quarter, while Clariss Machanguana added 19 points.