Sep 28, 2008 - 8:09 PM
0 shoutsBy PA SportsTicker
SAN ANTONIO 76, LOS ANGELES 72 ------------------------------
SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Becky Hammon came to the rescue and helped send the San Antonio Silver Stars to their first WNBA Finals in franchise history.
Hammon scored 35 points and nailed four crucial free throws down the stretch as the Silver Stars held on for a 76-72 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in Game Three of the Western Conference finals.
The hero in Game One, Sophia Young scored 18 points for the Silver Stars, who erased a five-point lead with 1:57 left.
Just 54 seconds later, Hammon nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game. After an offensive foul by Delisha Milton-Jones on the ensuing possession, Hammon made a pair of free throws on each of the next two possessions to seal the game.
It was the second straight stellar late-game performance for San Antonio, which posted a 67-66 victory in Game Two when Young nailed a desperation turnaround jumper at the buzzer.
The Silver Stars' opponent in the WNBA Finals will be determined Monday when the Detroit Shock and New York Liberty play the decisive Game Three of their Eastern Conference finals series. The Shock posted a 64-55 victory over the Liberty in Sunday's Game Two.
The best-of-five championship series will begin Wednesday in San Antonio.
Milton-Jones and Candace Parker scored 16 points for Los Angeles.
DETROIT 64, NEW YORK 55 -----------------------
YPSILANTI, Michigan (Ticker) -- With their season on the line, the Detroit Shock picked up yet another home win, albeit in unfamiliar territory.
Deanna Nolan scored nine of her 22 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Shock to a season-saving 64-55 victory over the New York Liberty in Game Two of the Eastern Conference finals.
Katie Smith scored 11 points for Shock, who staved off elimination with the triumph and will host the decisive third game of the series Monday.
Detroit outscored New York, 25-9, in the fourth quarter to erase a seven-point deficit entering the final period.
The Shock, who were 14-3 at home in the regular season, eliminated the Indiana Fever on their home floor in the decisive Game Three of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Despite continuing its home success in this one, Detroit had to do it at Eastern Michigan University thanks to a scheduling conflict at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
With "Disney on Ice" taking over their home arena and the Detroit Red Wings at nearby Joe Louis Arena, the Shock were forced to play in Ypsilanti, Michigan, which is more than 50 miles outside the Motor City.
Nolan shot just 7-of-22 from the field, including 1-of-5 from the arc, and Smith was 3-of-12 from the floor, including 1-of-4 on 3-pointers, for Detroit, which got forward Plenette Pierson back in the lineup.
Pierson, who was sidelined with a right shoulder injury, scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting.
Shameka Christon scored 16 points for New York.
