Reign Hang On To Beat Glory After Blowing 20-Point Lead

Shalonda Enis scored 20 points and Christy Hedgpeth hit a key 3-pointer after Seattle had blown a 20-point second-quarter lead as the Reign beat the host Atlanta Glory 81-78 Saturday night.

The Reign (11-24) saw their 41-21 lead evaporate with 1:56 remaining when player/coach Teresa Edwards’ layup gave the Glory a 70-69 lead. Edwards led Atlanta (13-21) with 22 points.

Hedgpeth’s 3-pointers and six free throws, four by Joy Holmes, keyed the late rally that carried Seattle to victory.

The game, played at Georgia Tech, drew a crowd of 9,667, the best home attendance for the Glory and the most for a women’s game at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

Kate Starbird added 13 points for the Reign and Val Whiting had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Stacey Lovelace added 16 points and Saudia Roundtree 15 for Atlanta.

Reign 81, Glory 78

Seattle (81) - Enis 5-12 9-9 20, Aycock 3-6 0-0 9, Whiting 5-10 2-6 12, Paye 2-5 4-4 10, Starbird 4-7 2-4 13, Orr 0-1 0-0 0, Hedgpeth 1-1 0-0 3, Holmes 2-4 8-8 12, Ndiaye 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 23-49 25-31 81.

Atlanta (78) - McClain 2-4 0-0 4, Lovelace 3-13 10-10 16, Freeman 3-4 0-0 6, Edwards 9-18 2-2 22, Roundtree 5-11 2-2 15, McCrimmon 3-8 3-4 9, Boswell 1-4 1-2 4, Conklin 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 27-64 18-20 78.

Seattle 24 19 18 20 - 81

Atlanta 12 20 18 28 - 78

3-Point goals-Seattle 10-12 (Aycock 3-3, Starbird 3-3, Paye 2-2, Hedgpeth 1-1, Enis 1-2, Orr 0-1), Atlanta 6-18 (Roundtree 3-6, Edwards 2-7, Boswell 1-2, Conklin 0-1, McCrimmon 0-2). Fouled out-Lovelace, Roundtree. Rebounds-Seattle 45 (Whiting 12), Atlanta 24 (Freeman, Edwards 5). Assists-Seattle 12 (Aycock 4), Atlanta 11 (Edwards 6). Total fouls-Seattle 21, Atlanta 20. A-9,667.

Blizzard 88, Rage 77 Springfield, Mass.

Carolyn Jones scored seven of her season-high 35 points during a 13-0 run in the second quarter as New England beat Philadelphia.

Jones was 11 of 14 from the field and 12 of 13 from the free-throw line in the Blizzard’s fifth consecutive victory, tying a franchise record.

The Blizzard (20-16) moved four games over .500 for the first time and reduced their magic number for making the playoffs to four.

New England made 7 of 9 shots in the first quarter in taking an 18-12 lead and matched a season high with 30 points in the second quarter.

The Blizzard led by as much as 55-35 after Dale Hodges’ 3-point play with 7:36 left in the third quarter.

New England’s Jennifer Rizzotti had eight points and five assists, despite needing three stitches to close a cut on her forehead after being elbowed by Dawn Staley late in the first quarter.

Philadelphia (77) - Frett 3-8 0-0 6, Goodson 8-16 9-9 25, McWilliams 1-4 5-6 7, Staley 6-10 4-4 21, Aldridge 0-4 2-2 2, Marciniak 4-9 1-3 10, Sobral 0-1 0-0 0, Cummings 1-2 4-4 6, Morgan 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-56 25-28 77.

New England (88) - Hodges 3-3 1-1 7, Tate 3-3 0-1 6, Deden 3-7 0-1 7, Jones 11-14 12-13 35, Rizzotti 2-9 4-4 8, Hill 1-5 1-1 3, Berube 1-1 0-0 2, Berry 3-5 0-0 6, Wolters 3-9 8-8 14. Totals 30-56 26-29 88.

Philadelphia 12 21 15 29 - 77

New England 18 30 16 24 - 88

3-Point goals-Philadelphia 6-17 (Goodson 0-1, Staley 5-9, Aldridge 0-2, Marciniak 1-3, Sobral 0-1, Morgan 0-1), New England 2-8 (Deden 1-1, Jones 1-1, Rizzotti 0-5, Hill 0-1). Fouled out-Philadelphia, McWilliams. Rebounds- Philadelphia 30 (Goodson 8), New England 32 (Hodges 8). Assists-Philadelphia 13 (Goodson 5), New England 18 (Rizzotti 5). Total fouls-Philadelphia 22, New England 26. A-8,140.