Sparks Stop Utah, Run Streak to Six

Mwadi Mabika scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half Tuesday night to help the Sparks extend their winning streak to six games with a 79-67 victory over the Utah Starzz before a crowd of 7,044 at Salt Lake City.

“I wanted to play hard, bend my knees and get a good shot,” Mabika said. “I haven’t been playing the way I’ve wanted since I missed four games with my knee, but I am beginning to get into a flow.”

Lisa Leslie had 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Sparks, who had lost three of their last four road games. DeLisha Milton also scored 16 points.

“We had a good team effort considering we are on the road,” Leslie said. “Utah is pretty fired up about their coaching change and they really came out stronger and harder, but I thought we were very poised.”

Margo Dydek scored 21 points for the Starzz, who lost for the first time in three games under new Coach Candi Harvey, who took over when Fred Williams resigned Friday. Adrienne Goodson scored 13 points and Natalie Williams had 10 points and nine rebounds.

Dydek made three three-point shots and scored 14 points in the first half as the Starzz built a 39-36 halftime lead.

Mabika scored seven consecutive points at the start of the second half to start a 13-8 run for the Sparks. The surge gave the Sparks a lead they never relinquished.

Sacramento 78, Houston 76--Yolanda Griffith had 29 points and 15 rebounds, and Lady Hardmon scored her only points for the Monarchs on a driving layup with 16.3 seconds to play in the second overtime at Sacramento.

The Comets failed to get a shot off in the final seconds. Guard Coquese Washington was dribbling the ball as time expired.

Minnesota 73, Portland 52--Katie Smith scored 28 points at Minneapolis to help the Lynx end a five-game losing streak.

Smith, who scored a WNBA-record 46 points in an overtime loss to the Sparks on Sunday at Staples Center, scored only five points in the first half. But she made three consecutive three-point shots in a 16-4 second-half run.

Miami 65, Orlando 63--Sheri Sam matched her own franchise record with 26 points and Sandy Brondello made a jumper with 1.1 seconds to play in overtime at Orlando, Fla.

Elena Baranova had 14 points, seven rebounds, five blocked shots and five assists for the Sol.

Cleveland 59, Seattle 53--Helen Darling scored all seven of her points in the final three minutes at Cleveland to help the Rockers extend their home winning streak to 12 games.

The Rockers, 8-0 at home this season, have not lost at Gund Arena since last July 20.

Rushia Brown scored 18 points for the Rockers, who improved to 13-5 and moved into a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference with the New York Liberty.