Defending Abl Champions Go Up 1-0 In Semifinals

ABL playoffs

Tonya Edwards scored 27 points, including a key 3-pointer and four free throws down the stretch, as defending ABL champion Columbus held off San Jose 94-88 Saturday night in the best-of-three semifinal series opener.

Columbus took a 1-0 lead in the series despite a career-high 33 points from the Lasers’ Jennifer Azzi, who hit four 3-pointers and was 9 for 11 from the free-throw line. The teams play tonight at San Jose.

Katie Smith had 26 points, Shannon Johnson 19 and Valerie Still 13 for the Quest.

San Jose’s Clarisse Machanguana scored 19 and Kendra Holland-Corn and Sheri Sam each had 13.

The Lasers shot 54 percent from the field, but could not overcome a 10-point deficit in the final minute.

Edwards hit a 3-pointer, then made two free throws to give the Quest a 92-80 lead with 45 seconds to play. Edwards sealed the victory with two more free throws with 25.9 seconds left.

Quest 94, Lasers 88

San Jose (88) - C. Smith 2-7 2-3 6, Sam 6-10 1-1 13, Machanguana 6-9 7-8 19, Azzi 10-14 9-11 33, Holland-Corn 4-5 2-2 13, Sandie 0-3 2-2 2, Gaither 0-1 0-0 0, Henning 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 28-52 25-29 88.

Columbus (94) - Lloyd 1-5 0-1 3, K. Smith 7-10 9-9 26, Still 6-14 1-1 13, Johnson 6-11 4-5 19, Edwards 7-16 9-12 27, Thirdgill 0-0 0-0 0, Tate 1-2 0-1 3, Davis 1-2 1-2 3, Potthoff 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-60 24-31 94.

San Jose 28 20 14 26 - 88

Columbus 25 25 20 24 - 94

3-point goals-San Jose 7-14 (Azzi 4-5, Holland-Corn 3-4, Sandie 0-1, Smith 0-2, Sam 0-2), Columbus 12-19 (Edwards 4-8, Johnson 3-3, K. Smith 3-4, Tate 1-1, Lloyd 1-3). Fouled out-Sam. Rebounds-San Jose 27 (Sam 7), Columbus 36 (Still 9). Assists-San Jose 14 (Azzi 4), Columbus 21 (Lloyd, Johnson 4). Total fouls-San Jose 27, Columbus 22. Technical fouls-Sam, Tate, Columbus bench. A-5,081.