Hodges scores 24 to help Silver Stars past Sparks 83-73

Silver Stars upend Sparks 83-73

SAN ANTONIO — Roneeka Hodges scored a season-high 24 points, helping the San Antonio Silver Stars end a three-game losing streak with an 83-73 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.

Hodges, starting for the first time since June 6, was 6 of 10 from 3-point range. She had 13 points in the first half and 11 in the third quarter to lead San Antonio’s 26-12 run.

“I felt real comfortable out there,” said Hodges, who has scored in double figures four times in the past five games. “As a shooter, when you see one go through there, it’s like (the basket) gets bigger and bigger.”

Becky Hammon scored 21 points and Sophia Young added 17 for the Silver Stars (7-12), who moved into a third-place tie in the West with Minnesota, a half game behind Phoenix.

“It always helps when ‘Neeka’s on fire,” said Hammon, who had seven assists. “It opens up everybody when she comes in and knocks down shots. We want to keep her going. She’s been great the past few games.”

San Antonio, the league’s lowest-scoring offense, had its first 80-point game since an 80-66 victory over Minnesota on June 26. The Silver Stars are 6-1 when scoring at least 80.

Tina Thompson scored 23 points, including 17 in a fourth-quarter rally that allowed Los Angeles (5-15) to get within five after entering the period down by 17.

“We played hard, but we played hard and wrong,” Thompson said. “When you don’t play the right way, it’s just tough. If we are not in the right places at the right time, it’s kind of a wasted effort.”

Young and Hodges scored eight points each in the first quarter as San Antonio moved to a 22-13 lead. The Sparks committed eight turnovers in the quarter and finished with 23 that led to 25 Silver Stars points.

“We haven’t been getting off to good starts, so it was time to make a change,” Silver Stars coach Sandy Brondello said. “Roneeka’s a bigger guard; she’s a more physical guard, and we needed more of a physical presence.”

DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 11 of her 15 points in the second quarter as the Sparks trimmed a 12-point deficit to three by halftime.