A total of 1,917 sports fans filled the University of California Riverside’s Student Recreation Center Arena, to watch the final WNBA preseason game of 2013 for the Los Angeles Sparks against the Tulsa Shock.
The Sparks were defeated by the Shock, 82-67, failed to come out on top after trailing for the majority of the game.
Inside, the building was an energetic crowd, which is far enough removed from the usual UCR athletic event.
It was more than just a basketball game at UCR, as the Sparks brought along their game operations crew including their PA announcer, the team’s mascot, a disc jockey, and dance unit called the “Ole Skool Crew” to provide more entertainment.
The Sparks opened the game on fire offensively as the team’s two star players, Candace Parker and Kristi Toliver, scored eight of the team’s first 10 points to give the Sparks an advantage of 10-7.
Tulsa, who played without their third overall draft pick Skylar Diggins, received an 11-point quarter from Candice Wiggins as the Shock finished the first period ahead, 22-18.
After the intermission, the Shock continued to build upon their lead with timely shooting and huge bursts of scoring from the duo of Glory Johnson and Wiggins.
Johnson, who finished the game with 22 points, capped off a 10-3 Tulsa run with a three-point play before a Roneeka Hodges 3-pointer moments later pushed the lead to nearly 20 points, 66-47.
Los Angeles pulled within 17 points following a Briana Gilbreath jumper, 71-54, but Wiggins immediately made a 3-pointer to sink any chance of a Sparks comeback as they eventually fell, 82-67.
Sports Minded 