Sun Beat Sparks At Home; Suspensions Of Parker And Leslie Costly

By Ann K. Miller: SPM CT Writer
Posted Friday, July 25, 2008

UNCASVILLE, Conn. - The Connecticut Sun fans had Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Sparks circled on their calendars since the start of the season. They packed the place in a sellout (9, 518), hoping to see how their team would match up against the Sparks' veteran Lisa Leslie and #1 draft pick Candace Parker.

The fans left the game tonight disappointed and happy … disappointed because Leslie and Parker didn’t play, and happy because their Sun team beat the Sparks at Mohegan Sun Arena for the first time since August, 2006 -- 87-61.

The Sparks were short four players – Leslie, Parker, Shannon Bobbitt and Delisha Milton-Jones, who were all serving suspensions meted out by the league for their participation in the shenanigans that went on at their Tuesday night game in Detroit, when five of their players mixed it up with Detroit players and Detroit’s assistant coach Rick Mahorn.

In the pre-game practice Thursday morning, head coach Mike Thibault told his Sun team that he had no idea which Sparks team they would be playing, as the decision on the suspensions had not yet been made. He had his team practice as if every player they would be guarding would be trying to score 20 points in the game. They could either be playing Leslie, Parker and Milton-Jones, or they would be going up against bench players looking to take advantage of the opportunity to start and get extended minutes on the floor.

The Sparks made it a contest for the first half, with help from the Sun’s sloppy turnovers (nine) and missed shots (15). There were eight lead changes and five ties in the first half. The Sun managed to pull away slightly at the end of the second quarter and went into the locker room with a 34-26 lead, mostly due to their subs Barbara Turner and Sandrine Gruda, who contributed 12 points off the bench.

In the second half, the Sun steadily pulled away, with Lindsay Whalen leading them in the third quarter with some spectacular shots, helping the crowd forget that they were missing out on seeing Leslie and Parker in action. One shot she made seemed impossible -- as she was stumbling towards the baseline from being fouled, she flipped the ball up and somehow it went in. A few minutes later she put in what might best be described as a “dipsy-do” shot, faking from one side to the other and then flipping the ball up and in.

Whalen led all scorers with 22 points. She also had four assists and three steals.

The surprise for the Sun was French rookie center Sandrine Gruda, who had 16 points off the bench.

Thibault is pleased with how Gruda continues to grow as a WNBA player.

“She’s gotten more comfortable, especially on the offensive end," he said. "On the defensive end she still has a few things to learn but she is getting there. ... She’s a good visual learner and when we can break the tape down and show her the mistakes she tends to correct them very quickly. When we come back, she’ll have another month of practice ... and I think she’ll be an even better player at the end of July and the start of August.”

Amber Holt and Turner each chipped in 12 points for the Sun.

The Sparks were led by the diminutive point guard Temeka Johnson with 11 points. Muriel Page, who will start serving her suspension tomorrow when the Sparks play the Liberty, had 10 points, as did Marie Ferdinand-Harris. Jessica Moore, the former UConn Husky did not score, but led the Sparks in rebounds with nine.

Coach Thibault and Tamika Whitmore of the Sun expressed support for Shock assistant Coach Rick Mahorn by sporting a “Free Rick” insignia – Thibault wore a sign on his jacket before the game and Whitmore had the message written on the tape she had around her ankle.

After the game Thibault expressed his opinion that Mahorn should not receive a more severe punishment (a two-game suspension) than the players who had hit him. Sparks forward Milton-Jones was suspended for only one game and she had come after Mahorn from behind, punching him in the back. Lisa Leslie had taken a swing at him. Thibault said he had texted his concerns about the matter to league headquarters, but hadn’t received a response.

The Sparks now travel to New York to play the Liberty on Friday at 7:30pm (NBA-TV). Tonight’s game marks the last game at home for the Sun before the break for the Olympic games. They travel to play the Washington Mystics on Sunday at 4pm (NBA-TV).