Mabika Pumps Up Sparks’ Win Streak

It was virtually rerun time for the first-place Sparks.

Five days after routing the Sacramento Monarchs at Staples Center, they did it again Friday night, dispatching the WNBA’s defending champions, 77-63, at Sacramento.

Just as they had last Sunday, Sparks starting center Lisa Leslie and starting point guard Temeka Johnson had limited court time, Leslie getting eight points in 18 minutes and Johnson coming up with six points in 23 minutes.

And Mwadi Mabika again filled the void.

The Sparks forward scored 24 points, on 11-for-19 shooting, in a performance that was reminiscent of the 27 points she produced Sunday against the Monarchs in an 80-69 victory at Staples Center.

The Sparks’ victory Friday kept them 1 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Houston Comets in the Western Conference. It was their seventh consecutive victory, but the first in the streak to come on the road.

That win streak began June 7 with the return of Chamique Holdsclaw. Friday, she again came off the bench, scoring 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds in 30-plus minutes, although she made only four of 16 shots.

The Sparks (10-3) pulled away in the second quarter with a 13-0 run to take a 33-22 lead.

The Sparks’ defense was particularly effective, limiting the Monarchs to 20-for-56 shooting (35.7%). Los Angeles made 33 of its 70 shots (47.1%).

Scholanda Dorrell’s 15 points led the Monarchs (6-6).