Beard Returns to Starting Schedule in Loss to Seattle

EVERETT, Wash. -- The Los Angeles Sparks fell 84-62 when traveling in a physical matchup against the undermanned Seattle Storm, dropping their 3rd consecutive game. Alana Beard went back to the court for the very first time because the season opener, having actually rested out the 7 previous video games because of injury. Beard uploaded 8 factors in her return Sparks Jersey. Nneka Ogwumike led the Sparks with ten points and five rebounds, while Jewell Lloyd racked up 23 factors for the released herself off a difficult cross-screen for an open layup, aided by Candace Parker, to notch the game's initial factors. Ogwumike returned the support numerous properties later on as she located Parker on an inequality in the article, and Los Angeles took a very early 10-3 lead. The Tornado remained afloat throughout the Triggers work on the rear of Jewell Loyd, that sank all three of her 3-point attempts for Seattle's initial nine factors of the video game. Nothing else Tornado gamer would certainly score up until Natasha Howard hit a driving layup with just under four minutes remaining in the first quarter. The layup fired up Seattle, and the Storm pressed to a 22-17 lead by the end of the quarter. Howard and Lloyd combined for 19 of Seattle's Sparks' offending issues proceeded into the second quarter as the Storm remained to warm up. Sami Whitcomb, Howard and Loyd each cracked in a three-pointer in the first 3 mins of play to set Seattle's period high for three-pointers made. The Sparks countered with prompt 3-pointers of their very own from Sydney Weise, Riquna Williams, and Chelsea Gray throughout the quarter to maintain Los Angeles within striking distance, yet Seattle held a 12 point lead at halftime. Loyd and Howard led all scorers in the first fifty percent with 17 and 16 points, Angeles posted a strong defense to begin the third quarter, enabling just 8 Seattle points in the very first five mins of play, but fell short to profit from the offensive end. Seattle soon discovered a fracture in the pesky Sparks pressure, and a fastbreak layup by Howard with three mins left in the quarter topped a 14-4 Seattle run for the biggest lead of the 4th quarter opened up with Seattle holding a 20-point advantage over the Triggers. Los Angeles began play on a 5-0 run, yet a Lloyd three-pointer and driving layup by Crystal Langhorne on back-to-back properties pushed the Seattle lead back to 20. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis scored 8 factors in the following four minutes to guarantee that Los Angeles would obtain no better. The Sparks shot simply 28. 6% from three in the competition, contrasted to Seattle's scorching 53. 8% from past the arc.