NEW YORK (AP) - Candace Parker and the Los Angeles Sparks capped off a disappointing road trip with a strong win over New York.
Parker scored 20 points and Nneka Ogwumike led the Sparks with 22 in a 90-75 victory over the Liberty on Tuesday night.
“We needed a win on this trip and this was the way to get it,” Parker said. “We’re a work in progress. We let two slip away and I think our defense kind of got back on track in this game.”
The defending champion Sparks blew a 14-point lead to Indiana in the opener of the three-game swing and then lost a close one in Atlanta.
“It was bigger than just winning on the road or winning off a three-game road trip,” Ogwumike said. “We were re-searching for our identity and hit the nail on the head tonight. Going into practices is perfect. We’re in a great situation to look at this film and bring it to practice.”
The Sparks (3-2) led 66-64 after three quarters and scored the first 11 points of the fourth period to take command.
The loss ruined a strong effort from Tina Charles, who had 25 points to lead New York (2-3).
“We need to trust each other out there and have each other’s back defensively,” Charles said. “We know how to start games obviously, we did great in the first half. We just have to do it for 40 minutes, we can’t pick and choose.”
Epiphanny Prince added 21 for the Liberty in her final game before she heads to play in the EuroBasket tournament next month.
New York trailed 63-56 late in the third quarter before Prince sparked a 8-0 run with six points and two steals to give the Liberty a 64-63 lead. Ogwumike had a three-point play with 22 seconds left in the third quarter and the Sparks never looked back.
Charles scored the first 11 points for New York and had 14 in the opening quarter, making six of seven shots. New York’s star got into foul trouble though and picked up her third foul with just under 3 minutes left in the half. New York led 38-36 at the break.
Los Angeles was still missing guard Odyssey Sims, who sprained her left ankle against Washington on May 19. She missed the entire road trip. Coach Brian Agler said that Sims should start practicing later this week when the Sparks return home.
TIP-INS:
Los Angeles: The Sparks didn’t lose their second game last season until July 17 after starting the season 20-1. They lost their third game two days later.
New York: Prince plays for Russia and Kia Vaughn for the Czech Republic and both will miss most of June to play in the EuroBasket. New York will sign Lindsay Allen on Wednesday to fill one of the roster spots. … The Liberty lost all three meetings with the Sparks last season. … Charles received a ring from USA Basketball before the game to honor her for helping the Americans win their sixth straight Olympic gold medal this past summer.
UP NEXT:
Los Angeles: The Sparks have a week before their next game against Chicago at home.
New York: The Liberty continue a five-game homestand against Dallas on Friday night.
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To see The Associated Press WNBA power poll online: https://collegebasketball.ap.org/ap-wnba-power-poll-week-3
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