• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Parker lifts Sparks over Silver Stars in OT

Aug 22, 2009 - 5:04 AM SAN ANTONIO(AP) -- It took three years for the Los Angeles Sparks to finally win again in San Antonio and it took overtime to do it.

Candace Parker had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Sparks to a 67-66 overtime win against the Silver Stars on Friday night.

"I thought it was a very good game," said Sparks coach Michael Cooper. "Everything is on the line now and I'm glad we got the win."

Noelle Quinn scored all four of the Sparks' points in overtime to give them the margin for victory. Her layup with 2:14 in overtime proved to be the difference in the game.

Sophia Young, who scored a career-high 31 points, responded with a three-point play with 2:02 left to cut the deficit to 67-66, but both teams went scoreless the rest of the way.

Becky Hammon's layup with two seconds left fell short.

"I took a lot of contact on that drive and it's frustrating," said Hammon of the no call.

Hammon finished with 14 points, six assists, and five rebounds.

Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson both had 14 to help Los Angeles win in San Antonio for the first time since July 26, 2006.

"Well, it's one for me, but every time we've come here, we've lost," said Parker of the losing streak to Silver Stars.

The streaking Sparks, who have won their last four games, are now in third place in the Western Conference. San Antonio fell into fifth place, a half-game behind Minnesota.

Hammon hit an 18-foot jumper with 1:20 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 63. Leslie had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but her turnaround jumper at the buzzer was short.

The Sparks, who led for most of the first three quarters of the game, gave up their first lead on Young's layup with 2:34 seconds to make it 47-45.

Young scored 15 in the third quarter alone.

"With LA we expect anything," said Young. "It's always going to be a good game. They never blow us out, we never blow them out, and it's always an exciting game for the fans."