Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Kristi Toliver scored a game-high 22 points and handed out five assists as the Los Angeles Sparks opened the post-Olympic portion of their schedule with an 82-71 win over the Seattle Storm on Saturday.
Nneka Ogwumike posted 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds and Alana Beard scored 18 points for the Sparks, who have won six consecutive games. Candace Parker added 11 points in the victory.
Tanisha Wright netted 21 points and Shennika Stricklen added 16 points in the loss for Seattle, who had a two-game post-Olympic winning streak snapped.
Los Angeles held a slim 40-38 lead at halftime and used a strong third quarter in which it outscored Seattle 27-17, to take control of the game. The Storm won the final period by a point, but the deficit was too large to overcome.
