Sparks 82, Sun 73


May 28, 2003 at 12:00a.m.


Sparks 82, Sun 73
By DONNA TOMMELLEO
AP Sports Writer
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) -- Opening their season in a casino, the Los Angeles Sparks went with the safe move. They got the ball to Lisa Leslie down low.
Last year's WNBA most valuable player had 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead the defending champions past the Connecticut Sun 82-73 Saturday.
The Connecticut team, formerly the Orlando Miracle, made its debut at the Mohegan Sun casino. The team was purchased and relocated by the Mohegan Indian tribe, becoming the first independent owner in the seven-year history of the league.
The resort is hoping to capitalize on the strong interest in women's basketball in Connecticut. Geno Auriemma, coach of the four-time NCAA women's champion UConn Huskies, was among the sellout crowd of 9,341.
They got a chance to see the inside dominance of the Sparks, led by Leslie, who scored 10 of the team's first 17 points and led a parade of Los Angeles players to the free throw line in the first half.
The Sparks led by as many as 17 in the period, hitting 12 of 14 free throws. from the free throw line. DeLisha Milton was 6-of-6 from the line in the first half as the Sparks took a 55-41 lead at the break.
The champions would that cushion in the second half.
The Sun, led by former UConn star Nykesha Sales with 16 points and 10 rebounds, maintained their uptempo game and hit the boards harder to slow the Sparks' attack. Los Angeles shot just 7-of-32 in the second half and was outscored 32-27.
Wendy Palmer's jumper with 5:45 left started a 13-3 Connecticut run. Shannon Johnson's layup capped the spurt and got the Sun to 77-73. But that was as close as it got. The Sparks closed out the game from the foul line, going 5-of-6 in the final 35 seconds.
Mwadi Mabika led Los Angeles with 19 points, while Milton added 17.
Johnson and Katie Douglas each scored 16 points for the Sun, and Palmer had 10 rebounds.
Connecticut outrebounded Los Angeles 46-43, a sharp turnaround from the first half, when the Sparks had a 10-rebound edge.