Parker has key late block, Los Angeles holds off Indiana

Jul 7, 2016, 01:36 am

LOS ANGELES -- Nneka Ogwumike scored 17 of her 23 points in the first half, Candace Parker made a key block in the closing seconds and the Los Angeles Sparks held off the Indiana Fever 94-88 on Wednesday night.

Los Angeles was ahead 80-60 with 6:22 remaining but Indiana stormed back.

Briann January made two free throws with 21.6 seconds left to pull Indiana to 89-85, and after Candace Parker missed two free throws, Tiffany Mitchell sank a 3-pointer to make it 89-88. Los Angeles pushed it to 91-88 after two free throws by Essence Carson and Parker blocked January's 3-pointer on the other end. Parker sealed it with a 3-point play.

Ogwumike was 10 of 14 from the field and Parker finished with 20 points for Los Angeles (17-1), which is ranked first in the AP power poll. Jantel Lavender and Kristi Toliver each scored 15 points for the Sparks, who jumped out to an 11-0 lead and never trailed.

Mitchell made four 3-pointers and scored 20 points for eighth-seeded Indiana (7-11). The Fever scored just 30 points in the first half but had 39 points in the fourth quarter.