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Toliver Leads Sparks To Blowout Victory Over Red-Hot Silver Stars

Amanda Martinez |
August 24, 2012 | 12:48 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

WHO: LA Sparks vs. San Antonio Silver Stars

Sparks forward Candace Parker had 10 rebounds and six assists against San Antonio. (Amanda Martinez
Sparks forward Candace Parker had 10 rebounds and six assists against San Antonio. (Amanda Martinez

WHAT: In what may ultimately be a postseason preview, the Los Angeles Sparks defeated the San Antonio Silver Stars, 101-77. The Sparks tied their season-high in points, as they snapped the Silver Stars' 12-game winning streak. San Antonio had not lost in a little more than two months.  

WHERE: STAPLES Center—Los Angeles

WHEN: Thursday, August 23, 2012

HOW: Kristi Toliver matched a career-high 29 points to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars, 101-77. The guard shot 10 for 14, including six for seven from three-point range. Alana Beard secured the blowout by adding 21 points, with DeLisha Milton-Jones contributing 14. In a dominant first half, Toliver and Beard each scored 16 points to give the team a 59-35 lead at halftime.

Although San Antonio’s Danielle Robinson posted a season-high 22 points to lead the Silver Stars in scoring, it wasn’t enough to take the sweep over the Sparks. In the three previous matchups, San Antonio defeated Los Angeles, but failed to keep up with the Sparks’ ball movement Thursday night. Toliver and Candace Parker recorded six assists each, allowing Los Angeles to shoot 57.1 percent from the field, including 52.6 percent from beyond the arc. San Antonio was limited to 43.2 percent from the field and only hit 14.3 percent (2-14) on three-point attempts.

Top Stats:

•The Sparks set a franchise record by scoring 59 points in the first half, breaking their previous record of 55, which was accomplished in a game against Connecticut on May 24, 2003 and versus Utah on August 4, 2002.

•Los Angeles is now enjoying its longest winning streak since 2006’s eight-game run, while ending San Antonio’s 12-game winning streak.

•The last time San Antonio held the lead was with 5:19 left in the first quarter (12-11), before Beard’s steal and Toliver’s driving lay-up gave the Sparks their first lead of the game.

•The Silver Stars and Sparks each shot 84.6 percent on free throw attempts, converting 11-13, apiece.

Post-Game Highlights:

Los Angeles Sparks Head Coach Carol Ross

On taking advantage of the Olympic Break

It’s been fortunate for us to have an Olympic break this year because it gave us another mini training camp, so I think we’re better because of it. Our confidence is good, and we really want to play well, especially at home.

On the record-setting first half

It really does reflect our defense. Our defense got us stops, gave us extra opportunities on the offensive end. 

On playing San Antonio and closing out the rest of the season

We had a lot of respect for San Antonio. It was a team we had yet to scratch against. They had our attention, but we are trying to be in the present and take care of our business today, but certainly it’s hard not to glance forward a bit to see what we have to do come October…we’ve got to be better every time we step on the floor.

Sparks Guard Kristi Toliver

On matching a career-high 29 points

I just wanted to come out and be aggressive against San Antonio, send a message to them that they’re not going to sweep us. Whenever we play, it’s going to be competitive. It really started on the defensive end, which led to our scores. We shot the ball extremely well as a group.

On the team’s focus before Saturday’s game

Rest and more practicing mentally. We had a lot of games in a short amount of time. New York is very physical, (and) they always are; they’re beasts. Mentally, we have to be ready for that and physically take care of ourselves.

On her own play

I know every opponent is going to come out hard, and they’re going to throw different matchups at me, and that’s fine. I’m going to take the open shot and find my teammates. It’s a chess match; that’s how the game is played. We have so many threats on this team. If my shot’s not there, we can create a shot for someone else.

Sparks Guard Alana Beard

On building chemistry during the Olympic Break

That month off really gave us a chance to play really well off of each other, and build the chemistry that we needed to win.  It really gave us a lot as a team, and we all learned a lot together.

Sparks Forward Candace Parker

On the play of the Sparks

Defensively, we were able to get out and run a lot, and we missed a lot of things, but we were playing good defense and we did a good job of switching.

Silver Stars Head Coach Dan Hughes

On the play of the Sparks

I give LA credit. I thought they shot the ball fantastic. I give them credit, because I thought they had control of the game and then just continued to throw the ball consistently.

On San Antonio's schedule

We’re playing so much right now, and the most important thing is to make no excuses. Tonight they played well and we didn’t get it done, but we have another game in 48 hours. We can’t linger around when we play this much basketball in a row.

What’s Next? The Los Angeles Sparks take on the New York Liberty Saturday at home.

Reach Staff Reporter Amanda Martinez here.



 

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