Penicheiro has career-high 13 assists, helps Sparks edge Shock in OT

Penicheiro helps Sparks edge Shock in OT

LOS ANGELES — Ticha Penicheiro had a career-best 13 assists, one on Noelle Quinn’s tiebreaking basket with 30 seconds left in overtime, to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to an 86-83 victory over the Tulsa Shock on Tuesday.

Penicheiro finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and five steals. DeLisha Milton-Jones scored a season-high 23 points for the Sparks (6-15), while Tina Thompson and Kristi Toliver had 15 points apiece.

“I thought our veterans showed up and really helped us,” Sparks coach Jennifer Gillom said. “This team is still hungry to get into the playoffs, and we’re doing everything that we can to try to get there.”

Scholanda Robinson scored 19 points for the Shock (4-17), who have lost 14 of 15. Kiesha Brown added 13 points and Ivory Latta had 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

With the score tied at 81, Penicheiro rebounded her own missed shot and fed Quinn for a layup. Penicheiro then made two free throws with 13 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 85-81.

“We shouldn’t have even been in that position to begin with,” Penicheiro said of overtime. “I think we let them get back in the game. We threw the ball away and they capitalized on some easy baskets.”

Tulsa’s Shanna Crossley made two free throws with 7.8 seconds to go before Penicheiro responded with a free throw that ended the scoring with 6.2 seconds to play.

“Turnovers and rebounding killed us,” Robinson said. “Even to get into overtime, if we had just gotten the rebound, we probably would have won.”

The Shock trailed by as many as 16 points but used a 15-2 surge to take a 74-72 lead with 1:39 left in the fourth quarter. Thompson’s 17-foot jumper with 18 seconds remaining forced overtime.

The Shock shot 37 percent from the field, 27 percent from 3-point range, and committed 23 turnovers that led to 28 Sparks points.