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Sparks ruin Sun's WNBA home opener
AP
, UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT
Monday, May 28, 2007, Page 18
Marta Fernandez and Mwadi Mabika each scored 19 points and the Los Angeles Sparks routed the Connecticut Sun 88-68 on Saturday, ruining the Sun's WNBA home opener.
Taj McWilliams-Franklin, traded from Connecticut in the offseason, added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Sparks (2-1).
Los Angeles led 52-32 at intermission, shooting 56 percent from the field in the first half.
Connecticut went on a 12-2 run after the break and cut the deficit to 64-61 when Lindsay Whalen hit a jumper with 8:05 left.
Fernandez's with 4:46 to go put the lead back to double digits and Los Angeles outscored Connecticut 24-7 down the stretch.
Nykesha Sales led Connecticut with 17 points and Erika de Souza, who was part of the McWilliams-Franklin trade, had 16 points and nine rebounds.
Asjha Jones, who replaced McWilliams-Franklin in Connecticut's starting lineup, missed her first 13 shots and finished with three points on 1-for-14 shooting.
The Sparks outscored the Sun 54-26 in the paint.
Connecticut content to take the outside shot, but hit only 5-of-20 from 3-point range. The Sun shot 35 percent from the floor overall.
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