TEAM SCORE RECORD HIGH POINTS HIGH REBOUNDS HIGH ASSISTSSHOCK 95 8-4 Riquna Williams – 22 Courtney Paris – 10 Plenette Pierson – 5

SPARKS 98 2-7 Kristi Toliver – 43 Nneka Ogwumilke – 10 Kristi Toliver - 9

Sparks Notes:

Los Angeles wins its second consecutive game, improving to 2-7 on the year. The Sparks are now 2-1 since Kristi Toliver’s return to the team.

Kristi Toliver set a franchise record for most points in a game with 43 points, breaking Lisa Leslie’s 41-point performance set on June 25, 2006. She also tied a franchise record with seven three-pointers made, which was last done by Mwadi Mabika on June 18, 2006.

Toliver scored 19 points in the third quarter alone. Through three quarters, Toliver scored 33 points, which surpassed her previous career-high in points (30), which was set two games ago against New York on June 28. Through three games this season, Toliver has two 30-plus scoring performances and is averaging 29.3 points.

Along with a career-high in points (43), Toliver set new career-highs in field goals (15) and three-pointers (7). She tied a career-high with nine assists, which was previously done three times.

Toliver also shot a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line. She has now made 17 consecutive free throws to begin her season.

With a three-point field made at the 4:19 mark of the second quarter, guard Kristi Toliver surpassed 2,300 career points. She has now scored 2,335 points in her career.

Ogwumike finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, making it her second double-double of the season and her fifth consecutive game scoring in double-figures.

Marianna Tolo tied a career-high in points with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Through the first half, both teams were tied, 42-42. Los Angeles’ 42 first half

points are the most the Sparks have scored in a first half this season. Also, Tulsa’s 42 points in the first half are the most the Sparks have allowed in the first half this year.

The Sparks scored 31 points in the third quarter, making it the most points the team has scored in a quarter this season.

The Sparks converted on nine free throws in the first half, making it the most free throws Los Angeles has made in the first half this season. The Sparks finished shooting 24-of-30 from the free throw line, both team-highs on the season.

The Sparks had its most points scored in a game with 98 points. Tulsa also scored the most points Los Angeles has allowed all season with 95 points.

As a team, Los Angeles shot 52.4%, which eclipses the team’s previous game-high of 50.0% set on July 2, 2015 against San Antonio.

The Sparks committed a season-low nine turnovers.

POSTGAME NOTESLOS ANGELES SPARKS vs. TULSA SHOCK

STAPLES CENTER | JULY 3, 2015

Shock Notes:

After beginning the season 8-1, the Shock have dropped three consecutive games with tonight’s 98-95 loss. At 8-4, Tulsa is second in the Western Conference behind Minnesota.

The Shock allowed 56 second half points, which are the most Tulsa has allowed this season.

The Shock made six three-point baskets in the first half, which are the most Los Angeles has allowed in a half all season. Tulsa shot 5-of-7 from downtown in the first quarter alone. The Shock finished with 11 three-pointers, which are also the most a team has made against Los Angeles.

Guard Riquna Williams had 11 first half points and finished with a team-high 22 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and three assists.

Karima Christmas finished with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting and eight rebounds. She scored 12 points in the first half. She shot 2-of-2 from downtown and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.

Forward Jordan Hooper had a career-high 14 points. Courtney Paris had her double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. In the losing effort, the Shock outrebounded the Sparks, 32-29. The Shock also

scored more points in the paint with 42 compared to the Sparks’ 29.

LOS ANGELES SPARKS QUOTES

LOS ANGELES SPARKS HEAD COACH BRIAN AGLER

On Kristi Toliver’s performance…

“Kristi’s [Toliver] performance was fabulous. She got it going. Her teammates were the ones that kept encouraging her to get the basketball and to put her on the move to put the ball in her hands. Not only did she have 43 points, but she also had nine assists. She’s just a very skilled basketball player. She is aggressive, confident, and in great shape. We are excited she is back.”

On Toliver’s high basketball IQ…

“She is an extremely intelligent basketball player. She understands the game and when you do that, you can anticipate everybody else’s movement on the court. She’s got a special mentality about the game of being very smart and very confident.”

On the mentality of the team on the current two-game win streak…

“We are definitely more confident. We have helped ourselves offensively by getting Nneka [Ogwumike], Kristi [Toliver], and Erin [Phillips] back. When you know you have those people on the floor with you, your confidence raises. We are a more confident team, but we need to keep pressing forward to get better. “

LOS ANGELES SPARKS GUARD KRISTI TOLIVER

On franchise record-setting night…

“I was doing a lot less thinking and a lot more using my instincts. When in doubt, I use basketball instincts. If the shot was there, it was a shot. If the pass was there, it was a pass. I really just didn’t want to force anything. I just let the game come to me and I was able to get in a rhythm in the third.”

On her emotions after career-night…

““It’s a very special feeling. The Sparks are a very special franchise and a it’s a very special feeling. I’m just happy to be a part of it”

On her preparation for this season while overseas…

“I was watching every game. I wanted to be as big of a part as I could be. I knew just from watching, there were ways that I could come and contribute immediately. Whether that was on the offensive or defensive end, I knew I was going to have to be aggressive because of all the injuries we’ve had. I knew they were going to need my scoring on a night-in and night-out basis. I was doing my homework while I was [overseas] and trying to stay engaged. When I first got here, my mentality was to be aggressive.”

On the quick turnaround for Sunday’s game…

“Rest, hydrate, and enjoy the fireworks. We will just wake up, watch film, and just prepare. For me, I’m always watching games, watching us, and always watching opponents, so I’m sure that’s what I’ll do in these 30 some hours that we have. It’s really just about preparation and doing your homework so you feel comfortable going into the game.”

LOS ANGELES SPARKS FORWARD NNEKA OGWUMIKE

On the Sparks two-game win streak…

“I think everyone is very focused. It’s tunnel vision in a good way. Not only did we get two wins, but it’s two back-to-back wins. This is our first back-to-back series and I think it’s great that we’re starting this off with a winning streak. We hope to maintain this focus and go in and win the third one in this three game home series”

On Kristi Toliver’s play…

“Kristi [Toliver] is spectacular. Sometimes, it’s a distraction because you end up watching her and you realize you have to get back on defense, but she’s amazing. It’s not just offense that she impacts but it’s also defense. She’s smart and she’s a veteran who is really easy to talk to and reads the defense really well. I’m excited that she’s on my team.”

TULSA SHOCK QUOTES

TULSA SHOCK HEAD COACH FRED WILLIAMS

On Sparks guard Kristi Toliver…

“You expect the Sparks to really come out on fire like they did, but [Kristi] Toliver played a hell of a match. She shot the ball very well. She was on rhythm. We trapped her and double-teamed her. She just found a way to score. When you have a player like that you just try to find a way to feed off her and I thought the Sparks did a good job of feeding off of her.”

For us defensively, we did a fairly good job in the paint and we tried to take away a few things. Around the perimeter, [that’s] where we got loose on us: the pick-and-rolls, the [isolations] on [Kristi] Toliver.

On three-game losing streak…

“We’re still trying to ways to play without two guards – two leading scorers – in Sims and Diggins. You’re talking about 40 points and 10 assists a game that we’re trying to figure out amongst the group that has never really got a lot of minutes like that. Playing Williams at a more point position is unnatural, too, so we’re still trying to fill and find our way. It’s pretty tough.”

On team resilience through injuries…

“A lot of it stems from our staff that we’ve instilled in our practice. They’ve been very resilient and not giving up – showing poise on the floor. They won’t give up. I will never let this team give up. We respect you, but we have no fear. We’re going to come out and play you 40 minutes hard.”

TULSA FORWARD PLENETTE PIERSON

On key player injuries…

“We’ve got big key players with Skylar [Diggins] and Odyssey [Sims] injured, so in losing them, it thrusts people in different positions and different roles that they’re used to. It’s all about weathering the storm and just hoping our talent and the way we play and how hard we work will get us a win.”

On three-game losing streak…

“We’re one or two positions away from turning the corner and going off on another eight-game winning streak. We’re just going to try to stay focus on our goal and our goal right now is to make the playoffs and eventually win the championship.”

TULSA GUARD KARIMA CHRISTMAS

On bouncing back against Phoenix Mercury…

“The main thing we’re focusing on is effort. In the last game we didn’t show that much effort so we wanted to come out here and just play as hard as we could. Defensively we need to book it down a little more and get more stops than we did. I’m proud of people stepping up and playing the harder than we did yesterday.”

On adjusting to injuries and team optimism…

“We have the most experience so sharing it with the younger players, being able to relate to one another while we’re on the court and know what each other likes, because we don’t have those two players. We just have to play off of each other and play as a team. Our spirits are up; we just haven’t played with each other that much. The lineup is not the same as it was before, so just being able to come out and know what everyone is comfortable at and get them into a spot where they can succeed, so it’s a learning curve, but slowly, but surely, we’re going to try to get through and get it together.”