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Latta scores 15 to lead Shock past Silver Stars

Jul 17, 2010 - 3:39 AM SAN ANTONIO(AP) -- Ivory Latta scored 15 points, all on 3-pointers, to help the Tulsa Shock snap a 12-game losing streak with a 75-70 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Friday night.

Latta, playing just her third game since signing with the Shock on July 5, was 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. She scored six points in the decisive fourth quarter as Tulsa (4-15) rallied for its first victory since beating Minnesota on June 4.

"I'm just so proud of my girls," said Latta, a four-year veteran who was released by Atlanta before the season. "We got a taste of victory, and we're going to try and keep going. We're learning each other's tendencies and coming together as a group."

Tiffany Jackson added 12 points for the Shock, who shot 8 for 16 on 3-pointers and pulled 2 1/2 games behind San Antonio for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

"We just knew if we could hang in there, we were hoping our conditioning would take over and we figured we could outrun them and outwork them at the end," Jackson said. "It was kind of like all of our tendency to go, 'Oh, no, not again' (in the third period), but the coaches really toughened us up and told us were not going to do this again."

Chamique Holdsclaw scored 20 points and Sophia Young had 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Silver Stars (6-12), losers of three straight. San Antonio tied the league's season high with 22 offensive rebounds.

"Right now, I don't like the taste of this," Holdsclaw said. "We're all disappointed, but you know, like coach (Sandy Brondello) said, if we hang our heads, they will continue to hang for the next two or three games. We just have to shake this off and continue to move forward."

San Antonio led 51-44 with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter before Tulsa made its move. Three-pointers by Latta and Kiesha Brown helped the Shock pull to 56-54 entering the fourth period.

"It's been a long, dry spell, but our kids played their hearts out," Tulsa coach Nolan Richardson said. "Usually, the third quarter has been a blister for us, and I knew that if we could stay within five points, that would be an improvement over the course of the season."

Jackson's layup with 5:48 left gave Tulsa the lead for good at 63-61, and Latta extended it 46 seconds later with her final 3-pointer.

Chante Black scored Tulsa's first six points, including two baskets off offensive rebounds, as the Shock sprinted to a 12-4 lead.

The Silver Stars took their first lead at 29-27 on Michelle Snow's layup, and regained it at 37-35 on a pair of free throws from Hammon with 1:50 left in the half.