The World - News from June 3, 2001
Lisa Leslie had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead the Sparks to a 76-67 victory over the Charlotte Sting on Saturday night before 12,843 at Charlotte, N.C.
DeLisha Milton scored 13 and Mwadi Mabika added 12 for the Sparks, who opened the season with three road victories.
“It’s been tough for us,” Spark Coach Michael Cooper said. “This is our third game on the road and our third home opener for the other team. We had travel problems and we’re ready to go home.”
After winning at Orlando on Friday night, the Sparks were delayed by thunderstorms on their trip to Charlotte.
The Sparks had a 61-46 lead with about nine minutes left, then the fatigue set in.
Charlotte (0-1) got six points from Andrea Stinson in a 12-2 run that cut the lead to 63-58 with 4:17 left.
Allison Feaster, acquired in an off-season trade with the Sparks, made her fourth three-pointer, Stinson scored on a layup and Clarisse Machanguana made a free throw to complete the run.
But the Sparks answered at the free-throw line, making five of six to push their lead back into double digits at 68-58.
After Stinson made a three-pointer, Leslie scored on a layup and two free throws, making it 72-61.
Rhonda Mapp, a former Charlotte center who was sent to the Sparks in the Feaster trade, scored 11 points and was five of six from the line.
“You have to have talented players to win back-to-back games like this,” Mapp said. “We’re going pretty good right now, but we’ve been on the road a long time and are ready to play on our own court.”
The Sparks’ home opener is Tuesday night against Cleveland.
In other WNBA games:
New York 75, Indiana 58--Tari Phillips had 21 points and 12 rebounds as the Liberty (1-1) defeated the Fever (0-2) before 16,050 at New York.
Phillips scored the first 10 points of the second half for the Liberty.
Vickie Johnson scored 13 points, and Becky Hammon and Sue Wicks each added 11 for New York.
Rita Williams scored 16 points to lead Indiana.
Houston 74, Detroit 73--Tina Thompson had 28 points and 11 rebounds and Janeth Arcain scored 24 points as the Comets (2-1) won before 9,401 at Auburn Hills, Mich., in the Shock’s opener.
Astou Ndiaye-Diatta led Detroit with 24 points and Elena Tornikidou added 17.
Phoenix 89, Minnesota 80--Reserve guard Bridget Pettis scored 26 points and Jennifer Gillom added 20 for the Mercury (1-2) in a victory over the Lynx (1-1) before 10,040 at Minneapolis.
The Mercury played the second half without Adrain Williams, who was sidelined because of a knee injury, and Trisha Fallon, who suffered from shortness of breath.
Portland 76, Utah 71--Sophia Witherspoon scored 23 points, including a basket with 12 seconds left, to lead the Fire (1-1) past the Starzz (1-1) before 6,813 at Salt Lake City.
Rookie Jackie Stiles added 16 points and made two late free throws to seal the victory.
Sacramento 70, Cleveland 65--Edna Campbell scored 15 points to lead the Monarchs past the Rockers (1-1) in their opener before 12,689 at Sacramento.
Sacramento played without all-star point guard Ticha Penicheiro, who was sidelined because of a sprained ankle.