WNBA: Johnson powers Shock past Silver Stars

Temeka Johnson (left) helped the Shock win their second game in a row.

Shane Bevel/NBAE via Getty Images

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Temeka Johnson scored 18 points to lead the Tulsa Shock to an 80-70 victory against the playoff-bound San Antonio Silver Stars on Sunday.

Ivory Latta added 15 points and Roneeka Hodges 11 for Tulsa (8-23), which won its second straight after a four-game skid.

Sophia Young scored 15 points and Danielle Adams 12 to lead San Antonio (19-12), which has lost seven of 10 since a 12-game winning streak. Becky Hammon and Jia Perkins both scored 10 points.

The Shock shot 63 percent (12 for 19) on 3-pointers as Hodges went 3 for 5 from beyond the arc and Johnson was 3 for 3. Tulsa outscored the Silver Stars 10-2 in the final 5 minutes of the game to turn a close contest into its first victory over San Antonio in five meetings this season..

"Today they were better than us," Hammon said. "I don't necessarily think they are the better team, but today they were, so give them credit."

Young's layup with 4:57 was San Antonio's last points until Adams hit a short jumper with 25.2 seconds left.

"Defense makes stops," Latta said. "We can go down and score anytime. We did a great job on Sophia. Everybody else got out on their shooters."

The fourth quarter started off as the third did, with San Antonio opening strongly only to have Tulsa respond with its own run.

Adams' layup completed a 6-0 run that tied game at 64, but the Shock regained the lead when Jennifer Lacy made a layup and Hodges a 3-pointer for a 69-64 advantage.

Courntey Paris' layup gave Tulsa a 74-68 lead with 2:56 left in the game, and neither team scored until Latta's jumper about 80 seconds later.

"We executed really well down the stretch," Shock coach Gary Kloppenburg said. "We had a couple of big shots go in (and) we got stops down the stretch when we needed them. That has been our problem with San Antonio. Before, in the fourth quarter, we were usually right there in the game and we could not get some key stops."

San Antonio finished the game shooting 39 percent from the field (26 for 66) after both teams shot better than 50 percent from the field in the first half.

Liberty 75, Mystics 68

WASHINGTON -- Trailing by nine points with about nine minutes remaining, a loss to last place Washington could have dealt a serious blow to the New York Liberty's playoff chances.

However, thanks to Cappie Pondexter, Nicole Powell and some stifling defense, the Liberty remain in control of their future.

Pondexter had 30 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and 11 rebounds as the Liberty rallied to beat the Mystics 75-68.

"Defense is our key," Liberty coach John Whisenant said. "And Cappie. She's been awesome. She's our MVP and the most important player to her team of anybody in the league."

Powell scored 10 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter as well and Essence Carson added 15 points as New York (14-17) won its third straight.

The Liberty began the day with a one-game lead over Chicago for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Sky play at Phoenix later.

Jasmine Thomas scored 16 points (on 7-of-11 shooting) and Monique Currie had 12 to lead the Washington (5-27), which has lost 11 straight.

Read More: http://sports.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/wnba/recap.asp?g=20120916009#ixzz26gFlGBM6

17 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/more/09/16/wnba-roundup-sunday.ap/index.html?eref=si_more
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