Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike lead Sparks over Storm 65-57

LOS ANGELES – Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike each had 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Seattle Storm 65-57 on Tuesday.

Parker equaled a season-high with seven assists and Armintie Herrington scored eight points for the Sparks (5-8), who held the Storm (6-10) to a season low in points, including just 10 in the fourth quarter.

Temeka Johnson led Seattle with 11 points and Jenna O’Hea and Noelle Quinn each had nine. Seattle pulled to 55-50 on Camille Little’s basket in the paint with six minutes left but the Storm made only two field goals the rest of the way.

Ogwumike made four free throws and Parker a layup off Alana Beard’s steal to put the game away late. The Sparks won despite a scoreless game from third-leading scorer Beard, who went 0 for 7 from the field.

“I just thought, for the most part, they played with a lot more urgency, toughness, and focus than we did,” Seattle coach Brian Agler said. “We had our chances to take the lead.”