Katies bar the door as East tops West in All-Star game

NEW YORK – Katie Douglas scored 16 points and Katie Smith had 14 to help the Eastern Conference cruise to its first victory in seven WNBA All-Star games, 98-82 over the West on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Douglas shot 4 for 7 on 3-pointers and had five rebounds and four assists to earn MVP honors. Cheryl Ford added 13 points, and Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Lindsay Whalen scored 10 apiece for the East, which took control with a 39-13 run spanning halftime.

Whalen, who also had six assists and five rebounds, stretched the East’s lead to 72-49 with a driving layup with 2:20 left in the third quarter. Tamika Whitmore’s hook shot in the final minute of the period increased the lead to 25, and Candice Dupree’s layup with 7:39 to go gave the East its biggest lead at 85-58.

Rookie Seimone Augustus was the only double-figure scorer for the West, finishing with 16 points.

The East won despite playing without injured starters Tamika Cachings of Indiana, Nykesha Sales of Connecticut and New York’s Becky Hammon.

With the outcome secure, the teams attempted a mini slam-dunk contest in the final seconds. Diana Taurasi made a try, but was stopped by the rim. Michelle Snow got the rebound and was given a clear path, but also hit the rim. She tracked down the loose ball and made her second attempt with 6.3 seconds left.

Deanna Nolan tried to make one for the East, but was short on her attempt before time expired.

The East closed the second quarter with a 16-4 run to take a 49-40 lead at halftime, only the second time it has led at the break in an All-Star game.