Ogwumike's double-double helps Sparks beat Stars 68-61

Jun 3, 2017, 01:00 am

LOS ANGELES -- Nneka Ogwumike had 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to help Los Angeles beat the San Antonio Stars 68-61 on Thursday night for the Sparks' season-opening sixth straight win.

Candace Parker added 10 points, five rebounds and seven assists for Los Angeles, which is ranked No. 2 in the AP WNBA power poll. Kristi Toliver made three of the Sparks' season-high nine 3-pointers and finished with 11 points to help Los Angeles beat San Antonio for the fifth straight time.

Kayla McBride scored 20 points for the 11th-ranked Stars (1-4). Kayla Alexander had a career-high 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for her first double-double.

San Antonio never led but Sydney Colson's steal and layup tied it at 54-all with 6:28 left in the fourth quarter. The Sparks answered with a 9-0 run -- with six points from Ogwumike -- and were never threatened again.

Los Angeles made 6 of 9 3-pointers in the first quarter to build a 25-19 lead but the Sparks did not make a second-quarter field goal until the 1:48 mark. The Stars couldn't capitalize as Toliver's 3-pointer with 2 seconds left gave Los Angeles a 35-31 lead.