Shock hangs on to beat the Silver Stars, 69-61

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Katie Smith scored 22 points and the Detroit Shock built a big lead in the first quarter, then hung on to defeat the San Antonio Silver Stars 69-61 Friday night and take a 2-0 lead in the WNBA finals.

Game 3 in the best-of-five series is Sunday at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich., where Detroit will try to wrap up its second title in the last three years.

Deanna Nolan and Kara Braxton added 12 points each for the Shock, who led 19-2 less than six minutes into the game.

Becky Hammon went 11-of-12 from the foul line and had 24 points to lead San Antonio.

The Silver Stars tied the game with 3:26 left in the third quarter on a pair of free throws by Hammon, and she put San Antonio ahead 45-44 with 1:46 left in the quarter on another pair of free throws.

Plenette Pierson, wearing a protective wrap on her shoulder after missing Game 1 with an injury, answered with a reverse layup for her only points of the night. Smith followed with two free throws that gave Detroit a 48-45 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Detroit made nine of its first 10 shots and San Antonio missed its first seven attempts, allowing the Shock to build a 10-0 lead.