Change Preferences | Sign Out
SEARCH:
washingtonpost.com
Web
| Search Archives

Shock Rebounds to Even Series

Shock 73, Monarchs 63

Deanna Nolan
Shock guard Deanna Nolan drives around Monarchs guard Kristin Haynie during the first half of Game 2. Nolan scored 21 points in the game. (Rebecca Cook - Reuters)
TOOLBOX
Resize
COMMENT
0 Comments 
Discussion Policy
CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging
» Links to this article
Associated Press
Saturday, September 2, 2006

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 1 -- Katie Smith of the Detroit Shock wasn't going to let her best chance for a WNBA title slip away easily.

Smith scored 16 second-half points after not scoring in the first half. Her performance included two clutch three-pointers in a 73-63 win over the defending champion Sacramento Monarchs on Friday night in Game 2 of the finals.

The best-of-five series is tied heading into Game 3 in Sacramento on Sunday.

"I haven't been here before, and who knows if I'll ever get back, so I'm going to leave everything I've got out on the floor," said Smith, who has scored 4,000 points during her WNBA career but had never played in the finals.

The Shock has lost its last two visits to Sacramento by an average of 36.5 points.

For the better part of three quarters, it looked like the Monarchs would take a 2-0 lead; they led by 11 points early in the game.

Smith hit a three-pointer with two seconds remaining in the third quarter to pull the Shock within 54-48.

"When Katie made the three-ball, we told them they've got 10 minutes to hold their home court and get back in the series," Shock Coach Bill Laimbeer said.

The Shock scored 14 of the next 16 points and didn't look back.

Detroit also benefited from the play of captain Swin Cash, who was all but absent in the first game. Cash, one of the stars of the 2003 title team, was held scoreless in Wednesday's 95-71 loss and was benched for the last 18 minutes by Laimbeer.

In Game 2, she had 11 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

"I thought Swin Cash played the way we want her to play. She came from the start and brought all the energy in the world," Laimbeer said.

But all-star Cheryl Ford, who scored a career playoff-high 25 points and was one of the few bright spots in the first game, got into early foul trouble Friday and was forced to sit for significant portions of the first half.

She picked up her fourth foul -- a blocking violation far from the basket -- midway through the third quarter and again headed to the bench. Ford, the daughter of former NBA star Karl Malone, finished with five points.



© 2006 The Washington Post Company