The easy way out would’ve been to skip it altogether. Even if Alana Beard were set on risking her perennially sore shoulder in the WNBA All-Star Game, couldn’t she just take it easy in front of a packed house of 19,487 hometown fans at Verizon Center?
Not a chance.
Showing the ultra-competitive spirit that has helped get the Washington Mystics back into contention after the second-worst start in league history — and refusing to deviate from her normal pregame routine — Beard sparked a game-changing run as the East All-Stars held off the West, 103-99.
“Before the game, I’m like, ‘Where’s [Mystics trainer] Navin [Hettiarachchi]?’ said Beard, who finished with eight points, eight assists and two blocks in just under 17 minutes of action. “I wasn’t going in to get taped until Navin could tape me. … I didn’t realize I was that superstitious.”
Beard had three straight assists in the final minute of the second quarter and blocked a shot by Sacramento guard Kara Lawson (West Springfield High) at the halftime buzzer, part of an 8-2 run to complete a comeback from 10 points down and tie the game, 53-53.
Led by Indiana’s Tamika Catchings (15 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists), the East outscored the West, 25-14 in the third quarter, culminating with a buzzer-beating jumpshot by Washington forward DeLisha Milton-Jones (11 points, five rebounds).
Detroit forward Cheryl Ford had 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists en route to earning MVP honors for the East while Houston Comets forward and WNBA original Tina Thompson had a game-high 19 points and six rebounds for the West.
“One thing I am happy about is that it’s over. I have never worked so hard in my life for free,” said Milton-Jones, joking about a busy schedule of All-Star related appearances. “Now that it’s done, I think we can focus back on our teams and the second half of the season, and making runs. I hope that Indiana can go on a losing streak, Connecticut as well, and the Mystics can go on a winning streak.”
Net Notes
» Sacramento and former Georgetown All-American forward Rebekkah Brunson, who suffered a leg injuryin the Monarchs’ final game before the All-Star break, was replaced in the West All-Stars lineup by San Antonio forward Sophia Young.
» Prior to the game, WNBA president Donna Orender announced an eight-year agreement with ESPN to have games broadcast by the network through 2016.
» Virginia head women’s basketball coach Debbie Ryan was announced at halftime as a Class of 2008 inductee into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
