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Hammon, Silver Stars advance to WNBA Finals

Sep 29, 2008 - 12:03 AM 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.