CubanMustGo
09-12-2008, 09:14 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Silver_Stars_lock_up_top_seed_with_late_rally.html
They were out-rebounded decisively in the first half, spent too much time “talking to the referees” about calls and no-calls, and struggled during stretches to find an offensive rhythm. (Hmm, sounds like another SA basketball team)
To the Silver Stars, their game Thursday against Connecticut served as the perfect primer for what the playoffs are about — overcoming nights when things aren't always going well.
If that truly is the case, then the Silver Stars have to like what might be in store for their future.
Sophia Young, Ann Wauters and Erin Buescher kept their team afloat during crucial times, and Becky Hammon delivered two key plays late as the Silver Stars rallied past Connecticut 78-74 before 6,791 fans at the AT&T Center.
With the victory, the Silver Stars (23-10) clinched the WNBA's best record, the No. 1 overall seed and home court throughout the playoffs.
“Home court is something you play to,” Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said after his squad completed a 14-0 mark against the Eastern Conference this season. “Statistically, it has clearly been born-out that it matters.
“More than that, you just want to be playing good basketball. I think the fact that you're able to close the season playing good basketball means even more than home court.”
During stretches on Thursday, the Silver Stars didn't play their best. They scored nine points in the third quarter — their second-worst quarter this year — making 3 of 14 shots. They trailed 57-52 going into the fourth quarter.
But when it mattered, the Silver Stars came up big, closing the game on an 11-4 run in the final 2½ minutes, turning a 70-67 deficit into a victory.
Hammon scored five points in the final 1:17, including a two-handed scoop shot with 5.5 seconds left as the Silver Stars defeated Connecticut (20-13) for the second time in five days.
“The second half showed that we not only have a lot of dangerous scorers on this team, but also a lot of unselfish players,” said Hammon, who along with Wauters tallied 17 points. “That leads to a lot of good looks and a lot of quality shots. We can get a big shot from anyone.”
On this occasion, Young came up with the majority of the big shots. She scored 10 of her game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter, including back-to-back three-point plays in 42 seconds to put the Silver Stars ahead 67-66 with 3:46 to play.
“I just tried to step it up a little bit and just play a little bit more aggressive,” Young said. “We knew what we were playing for tonight. Even when Connecticut made their run, we just knew we needed to keep our composure.”
They did. The Sun took their final lead at 72-71 on Kerri Gardin's layup with 1:46 to play, but Hammon hit a 3-pointer to put the Silver Stars ahead 74-72.
Buescher, who had 11 points, made a layup with 34.1 seconds, extending her team's advantage to 76-72. Connecticut, which played without star Lindsay Whalen because of an ankle injury, closed within 76-74 on Jamie Carey's layup, but Hammon secured the victory, driving around three defenders for a layup with 5.5 seconds left.
They were out-rebounded decisively in the first half, spent too much time “talking to the referees” about calls and no-calls, and struggled during stretches to find an offensive rhythm. (Hmm, sounds like another SA basketball team)
To the Silver Stars, their game Thursday against Connecticut served as the perfect primer for what the playoffs are about — overcoming nights when things aren't always going well.
If that truly is the case, then the Silver Stars have to like what might be in store for their future.
Sophia Young, Ann Wauters and Erin Buescher kept their team afloat during crucial times, and Becky Hammon delivered two key plays late as the Silver Stars rallied past Connecticut 78-74 before 6,791 fans at the AT&T Center.
With the victory, the Silver Stars (23-10) clinched the WNBA's best record, the No. 1 overall seed and home court throughout the playoffs.
“Home court is something you play to,” Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said after his squad completed a 14-0 mark against the Eastern Conference this season. “Statistically, it has clearly been born-out that it matters.
“More than that, you just want to be playing good basketball. I think the fact that you're able to close the season playing good basketball means even more than home court.”
During stretches on Thursday, the Silver Stars didn't play their best. They scored nine points in the third quarter — their second-worst quarter this year — making 3 of 14 shots. They trailed 57-52 going into the fourth quarter.
But when it mattered, the Silver Stars came up big, closing the game on an 11-4 run in the final 2½ minutes, turning a 70-67 deficit into a victory.
Hammon scored five points in the final 1:17, including a two-handed scoop shot with 5.5 seconds left as the Silver Stars defeated Connecticut (20-13) for the second time in five days.
“The second half showed that we not only have a lot of dangerous scorers on this team, but also a lot of unselfish players,” said Hammon, who along with Wauters tallied 17 points. “That leads to a lot of good looks and a lot of quality shots. We can get a big shot from anyone.”
On this occasion, Young came up with the majority of the big shots. She scored 10 of her game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter, including back-to-back three-point plays in 42 seconds to put the Silver Stars ahead 67-66 with 3:46 to play.
“I just tried to step it up a little bit and just play a little bit more aggressive,” Young said. “We knew what we were playing for tonight. Even when Connecticut made their run, we just knew we needed to keep our composure.”
They did. The Sun took their final lead at 72-71 on Kerri Gardin's layup with 1:46 to play, but Hammon hit a 3-pointer to put the Silver Stars ahead 74-72.
Buescher, who had 11 points, made a layup with 34.1 seconds, extending her team's advantage to 76-72. Connecticut, which played without star Lindsay Whalen because of an ankle injury, closed within 76-74 on Jamie Carey's layup, but Hammon secured the victory, driving around three defenders for a layup with 5.5 seconds left.