Sparks Get Spark From Duo

WNBA

Linda Burgess and Heidi Burge combined for 34 points and 18 rebounds in their first starts as the Los Angeles Sparks held off the Utah Starzz 75-68 Friday night.

Burgess scored 20 points and Burge 14 as Los Angeles (4-5) ended a two-game losing streak. Lisa Leslie added 12 points and Penny Toler 11 before fouling out in front of an announced crowd of 7,187.

The Starzz trailed 41-28 at halftime but pulled within three points four times in the second half. Wendy Palmer - who scored 17 points - could have cut Los Angeles’ lead to one with 31.1 seconds left, but missed both of her free throws.

Jamila Wideman and Tamecka Dixon each hit two free throws in the final 22.9 seconds to seal the victory.

Kim Williams, Elena Baranova and Tammy Reiss each scored in double figures for Utah. The Starzz (2-7) are in last place in the WNBA’s four-team Western Conference.

Leslie scored nine points and Burgess added eight as Los Angeles took a 41-28 halftime lead. Leslie made three of 11 shots in the first half.

Sparks 75, Starzz 68

Utah (68) - Carter 0-5 0-2 0, Palmer 7-13 2-6 17, Baranova 5-11 2-2 12, Hardmon 4-9 0-0 8, Reiss 3-9 2-2 10, Williams 4-11 4-6 13, Booker 0-1 2-4 2, Head 2-5 1-1 5, Hicks 0-2 1-2 1, Scott 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-66 14-25 68.

Los Angeles (75) - Burge 6-9 2-6 14, Burgess 9-12 2-4 20, Leslie 3-15 6-10 12, Toler 4-8 3-4 11, Wideman 2-6 2-2 6, Colleton 1-2 0-0 2, Haixia 0-0 0-0 0, Dixon 2-3 2-2 6, Mabika 0-0 2-2 2, Charles 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 28-57 19-30 75.

Utah 28 40 - 68

Los Angeles 41 34 - 75

3-Point goals-Utah 4-13 (Reiss 2-4, Williams 1-2, Palmer 1-4, Carter 0-1, Booker 0-1, Head 0-1), Los Angeles 0-4 (Burge 0-1, Toler 0-1, Colleton 0-1, Dixon 0-1). Fouled out-Hicks, Toler. Rebounds-Utah 44 (Baranova 8), Los Angeles 48 (Burge, Burgess 9). Assists-Utah 10 (Baranova, Williams 3), Los Angeles 17 (Leslie, Toler 6). Total fouls-Utah 25, Los Angeles 20. A-7,187.