Sparks go on a tear to stop the Sun, 87-77

Los Angeles – The Los Angeles Sparks used a second-half push to burst past the surging Connecticut Sun, 87-77, Thursday and stop a two-game losing skid.

Nneka Ogwumike scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Los Angeles, while Candace Parker had 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Chelsea Gray had 17 points and Riquna Williams 10 for the defending champions, who halted Connecticut’s five-game winning streak.

The Sun got out to a blistering start on 58 percent shooting in the first quarter, and they led the Sparks, 32-18 at the end of the period. The host then outscored the visitors, 51-25 over the next two quarters to take a 69-57 lead into the final stanza.

Jonquel Jones, who fronted Connecticut’s effort with 20 points, scored 11 in the fourth quarter to spearhead a comeback that saw the young team hold Los Angeles to 37.5 percent shooting. But though they outscored them in the period, 20-18, it wasn’t enough.

Jasmine Thomas scored 14 points for the Sun, while Alex Bentley added 11 and Courtney Williams, 10.

Sparks coach Brian Agler credited Connecticut, and cited his team’s lack of defense in the first period.

“Our defense started getting better there in the second quarter,” he said. “We had a lot of people who are good on-ball defenders. They have good We were happy that after the first quarter they didn’t get a lot of threes to go down because they are an excellent three-point shooting team. And we are really happy about how we eliminated their second chance point opportunities, they didn’t get many offensive boards.”

Connecticut coach Curt Miller said playing the second of back-to-back games effected his team.

“We played really well in the first quarter and showed that we were ready, but we ran out of a bit of gas,” Miller said. “Credit to them – they’re a championship team and they broke us down. We had some missed assignments and then our shots stopped falling, and that put us in transition defense a lot, so we just couldn’t get our half-court defense set when we weren’t making shots in those middle quarters.”

The 13-5 Sparks are now 1.5 games behind the league-leading Minnesota Lynx, and 1.5 games ahead of third place Phoenix. The Sun, now 11-8, drop to fourth in the standings after beginning the season in the bottom quarter of the league with a four-game losing streak. They still lead the Eastern Conference.

Nneka Ogwumike gets around the screen. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Nneka Ogwumike scores over Jonquel Jones. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Connecticut Sun players applaud the efforts of their teammates on the floor. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Lynetta Kizer defends Nneka Ogwumike. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Nneka Ogwumike looks to pass. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Riquna Williams drives in for a layup. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Candace Parker goes up for the bucket. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Jonquel Jones after scoring a bucket. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Candace Parker drives past Jonquel Jones to score. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Sydney Wiese storms by Courtney Williams. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Nneka Ogwumike, Jonquel Jones and Alyssa Thomas prepare to rebound. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Connecticut Sun players react to a call. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Alyssa Thomas discusses a call with an official. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Chelsea Gray sends a shot up. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Chelsea Gray runs the ball around the perimeter. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Chelsea Gray looks for a pass. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Candace Parker scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished six assists. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Jasmine Thomas prepares to set up a play. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Riquna Williams watches her shot fall. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Jantel Lavender celebrates making a shot. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Jasmine Thomas takes it to the rack. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Sparks players talk during a pause in game action. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Alyssa Thomas debates her options under the eye of Candace Parker. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Sparks players watch a technical free throw shot. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Nneka Ogwumike guards Alex Bentley. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Jasmine Thomas prepares to launch a shot. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Jasmine Thomas flips it up and in. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Riquna Williams pumps a fist after making a shot. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Chelsea Gray discusses a call with an official while Riquna Williams listens in. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Connecticut Sun players confer at a timeout. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Alex Bentley sets up a play. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Nneka Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas jump the ball. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Jantel Lavender and Riquna Williams help Chelsea Gray up after a foul. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Alex Bentley tries to beat Riquna Williams on the dribble. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Riquna Williams defends Alex Bentley. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Alex Bentley shoots the ball. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Jantel Lavender scores over Lynetta Kizer. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Jonquel Jones scores for the Sun. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Alex Bentley runs the ball up the court for the Sun. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Candace Parker. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.

Candace Parker exults as her shot falls. Photo by Maria Noble/WomensHoopsWorld.