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Sparks hold on to win close game against Sun

Aug 7, 2013 - 1:20 AM Uncasville, CT (Sports Network) - Kristi Toliver scored nine of her 19 points in the final quarter and pulled down nine rebounds to carry the Los Angeles Sparks to a 74-72 win against the Connecticut Sun.

Nneka Ogwumike contributed 15 points, while Jantel Lavender scored 14 for the Sparks, who won their second game in a row on the road.

Eastern Conference Player of the Week Tina Charles led the game in points with 25 and boards with 13. Her double-double was not enough for the Sun, who remain in the basement of the East with a record of 6-13. Renee Montgomery had 13 points and Allison Hightower scored 12 for Connecticut, which had won its previous two games.

The Sun outscored the Sparks in the second half 36-31, but failed to complete the comeback. They were behind 69-59 with 4:14 left, but got within one a few times.

Montgomery's 3-pointer had it at 69-68 with 2:05 left, but her potential 3- point shot was off the mark in the final minute. Montgomery's layup cut the margin to 73-72 with 5.6 seconds left, and Toliver went 1-of-2 at the foul line with 2.8 seconds to go.

Montgomery missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer.

The Sparks were without their All-Star forward Candace Parker who missed her third consecutive game with a wrist injury.