Riquna Williams scores season-high 27 points in Shock's win

TULSA, Okla. -- Rookie Riquna Williams scored a season-high 27 points and Ivory Latta added 21 to lead the Tulsa Shock to a 91-75 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night.

Temeka Johnson added 11 points as Tulsa (2-11) got its second win in the last 12 meetings against Los Angeles. Williams' total was a WNBA rookie high this season.

"She is a microwave-type player and when she's hot, you draw up plays to keep her going," Tulsa coach Gary Kloppenburg said. "She did a good job of taking the ball to the rim and finishing."

The Shock, 0-6 in games decided by seven points or fewer, won for the second time in four games after opening the season with nine losses.

"Tonight was very rewarding after some of the tough games we've been through," Kloppenburg said. "We wanted to be physical and give them some resistance from the start of the game, and our players followed the plan all night."

Kristi Toliver scored 21 points to lead Los Angeles (10-5), which dropped its second consecutive game and lost by 16 or more points for the third time this season. Candace Parker, who tied a season-high with 33 points in a victory over the Shock on June 20, was held to just two points on 1 of 6 shooting.

Williams' 3-pointer gave the Shock a 23-12 lead after one quarter.

"They had great playmakers at the guard position and they had good play from their guards all night," Los Angeles coach Carol Ross said. "They're explosive and quick and their guard play really took over the game."

Tulsa had a 19-7 run over the final 8 minutes of the second to extend their advantage to 48-25 at halftime. It was the Shock's largest lead at the break, topping their six-point advantage against Phoenix on May 22.

The 25 points were a season-low in the first half for Los Angeles.

The Sparks pulled within 13 points midway through the third quarter, but Tulsa finished the period on a 14-2 run to regain control of the game.

"I thought we had the right mindset to make a run, but Tulsa responded and hit some big shots," Ross said.

The Shock led by as much as 27 points in the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles' DeLisha Milton-Jones became the ninth WNBA player reach 5,000 career points when she connected on an inside basket with 7:57 left in the second quarter.


(espn.com)