Miscellaneous – Page 6 – Sports Radio Service

Aces fall to Wings 77-67 to complete four-game road trip

Published on June 15, 2018June 15, 2018 by psushawnLeave a comment

By Shawn McCullough

The Las Vegas Aces had no answers on how to stop Dallas center Liz Cambage.

Cambage scored 28 points and pulled down 18 rebounds as the Aces two game winning streak came to an end in a 77-67 loss to the Dallas Wings at College Park Center in Arlington, TX.

The Aces were led by guard Kayla McBride who scored 22 points, while A’ja Wilson added 14.

The Aces struggled from the field shooting just 41.7% and were dominated on the boards 43-27.

With the loss, the Aces fall to 3-8 on the season and will now head home to play the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

A’ja Wilson has scored in double figures (14 tonight) in all 11 games so far this season.
Nia Coffey was activated coming off an ankle injury and scored three points off the bench in just under 10 minutes. Las Vegas native Sequoia Holmes was released to make room for Coffey.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 1 Tamera Young
C – 19 JiSu Park
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 10 Kelsey Plum

Aces’ defense smothers Liberty in second straight win, 78-63

Published on June 13, 2018June 13, 2018 by psushawnLeave a comment

Photo credit: Las Vegas Aces

By Shawn McCullough

Aces head coach Bill Laimbeer has been stressing focus on defense since the beginning of the season. Now it is paying off.

Las Vegas held the New York Liberty to just 63 points, 30 in the second half, in a 78-63 win at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY.

Dearica Hambry came off the bench and led the Aces in scoring, dropping 17 points, while Kayla McBride went 7 for 12 from the field for 16 points.

Rookie sensation A’ja Wilson scored 13 points, the lowest point total in her 10-game career.

Up 37-33 at halftime, the Aces went on a 22-7 run to start the second half.

In their three wins this season, the Aces have held their opponents to an average of 76 points per game.

With the win, the Aces improved to 3-7 on the season and are riding a two-game winning streak.

The Aces will complete their current four-game road trip on Friday in Dallas against the Wings.

The Aces next home game will be on Sunday, June 17^th against the Phoenix Mercury at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

A’ja Wilson has scored in double figures (13 tonight) in all 10 games so far this season.
Only 1,419 fans were in attendance for the game at the Westchester County Center.
Nia Coffey (ankle) and Moriah Jefferson (knee) did not play due to injury.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 1 Tamera Young
C – 19 JiSu Park
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 10 Kelsey Plum

Aces win second game of the season, beat Fever 101-92 in OT

Published on June 12, 2018June 12, 2018 by psushawnLeave a comment

Photo credit: Las Vegas Aces

By Shawn McCullough

The Las Vegas Aces outscored the Indiana Fever 17-8 in overtime for their second win of the season in a 101-92 victory at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN.

A’ja Wilson led the Aces with a career-high 35 points and also a career-high 13 rebounds.

Las Vegas led by eight points with a little over two minutes remaining in regulation, but the Fever rallied back to tie the game with 26.6 seconds left.

The Aces started the overtime period on an 8-0 run and never looked back.

The offense came alive against the Fever as the Aces shot 51.9% from the field, while holding Indiana to just 44.4%.

With the win, the Aces improved to 2-7 on the season.

The Aces will play their next two games on the road in New York against the Liberty and in Dallas against the Wings.

The Aces next home game will be on Sunday, June 17^th against the Phoenix Mercury at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces never trailed in the game after an A’ja Wilson jump shot with 2:39 left in the first quarter to give Las Vegas a 20-18 lead.
A’ja Wilson scored in double figures (35) for the ninth straight game and 30 or more points for the first time in her career.
Nia Coffey (ankle) and Moriah Jefferson (knee) did not play due to injury.
Yesterday was Nia Coffey’s 23rd birthday.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 1 Tamera Young
C – 19 JiSu Park
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 10 Kelsey Plum

Aces fall to Mercury 72-66 in third straight loss

Published on June 10, 2018June 10, 2018 by psushawnLeave a comment

Photo credit: Las Vegas Aces

By Shawn McCullough

The Las Vegas Aces rallied in the second half but lost to the Phoenix Mercury 72-66 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena on Sunday.

Down 50-37 at halftime, the Aces went on a 31-14 run in the second half to cut the deficit to four points, but couldn’t get any close.

A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 17 points and added seven rebounds, while Kayla McBride scored 16 points, going 2-for-5 from the 3-point line.

Center JiSu Park pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds.

Mercury guard Diana Taurasi scored a game-high 25 points, including three from 3-point range.

With the loss, the Aces dropped to 1-7 on the season.

The Aces will play their next three games on the road in Indiana, New York and Dallas.

The Aces next home game will be on Sunday, June 17^th against the Phoenix Mercury at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces’ only lead in the game was at 2-0 after two Kelsey Plum free throws.
A’ja Wilson scored in double figures (17) for the eighth straight game.
Las Vegas native Sequoia Holmes was resigned by the Aces on Friday and scored two points in 12 minutes. Holmes was released by the team back on May 16^th.
Nia Coffey (ankle) and Moriah Jefferson (knee) did not play due to injury.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 1 Tamera Young
C – 19 JiSu Park
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 10 Kelsey Plum

Justify Wins the Triple Crown at the 2018 Belmont Stakes

Published on June 9, 2018June 10, 2018 by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

Photo credit: @ESPNStatsInfo Video credit: NBC Sports and You Tube

By Matthew Harrington

It was never in doubt, the morning favorite Justify has won the Belmont Stakes and subsequently the Triple Crown. With the win at Belmont, Justify became the 13th Triple Crown winner all-time, winning handedly in the rain at the Kentucky Derby and taking the Preakness Stakes through a heavy fog. The Chestnut thoroughbred is the first Triple Crown winner since American Pharaoh in 2015, and only the second since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978.

Justify, the 4-5 favorite despite the longer 1 1/4 race, enters the conversation with Seattle Slew historically. Arguably the greatest horse in racing history, Seattle Slew is the only horse to have gone undefeated in his run to the crown in 1977. Justify, the horse to break Apollo’s Curse at the derby, now has gone a perfect 6-0 after not racing st all as a two-year-old.

For trainer Bob Baffert, Saturday’s race makes him the second trainer ever to win two Triple Crowns along with James Fitzsimmons (Gallant Fox, Omaha). He is Baffert also trained American Pharaoh, his first Triple Crown winner. He’s had a horse looking for the trifecta at Belmont Park 5 times.

Justify jockey Mike Smith is already in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame for winning an astounding 26 Breeder’s Cups. He now can add Triple Crown to his resume. It’s his third win in the Belmont, having won the third jewel of the Triple Crown in 2010 and 2013. Prior to this year, he’d won the Kentucky Derby in 2005 and the Preakness in 1993.

The Winstar farms livery Smith donned at Churchill Downs and Plimico was gone Saturday, superstitions be dammed. Instead, the red silks with stars of the China Horse Club were in the winner’s circle. The horse is owned by a group of investors with a rotating schedule for the dressage.

Aces fall 95-90 to Sky in Chicago

Published on June 3, 2018June 3, 2018 by psushawnLeave a comment

Photo credit: Las Vegas Aces

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces led by as many as 15 points, but got hurt by foul trouble into the second half as the Chicago Sky beat the Aces 95-90 at Wintrust Arena on Sunday night.

Dearica Hamby scored a career high 24 points to lead the Aces, while A’ja Wilson dropped 22 points with five rebounds.

The Sky dominated the boards, outrebounding the Aces 40-27, including 12 offensive rebounds.

With the loss, the Aces dropped to 1-5 on the season.

The Aces will next return home to play the Atlanta Dream on Friday, June 8^th at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. This will be the first meeting of the season between the Aces and the Dream.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 12 Nia Coffey
C – 3 Kelsey Bone
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 15 Lindsay Allen

Aces win first game of the season; beat Mystics 85-73

Published on June 1, 2018June 1, 2018 by psushawnLeave a comment

Photo credit: Shawn McCullough, Sports Radio Service

By Shawn McCullough

LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Aces won their first game in franchise history with an 85-73 victory over the Washington Mystics at the Mandalay Bay Event Center Friday night.

“This is very important that we get our first win,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “You want to get rid of the monkey as fast as possible in any sport. Overall, it was a very important win for us.”

It’s tough winning in this league, so for us to finally to get a win is exciting for us,” said forward A’ja Wilson. “I am glad that we got it at home so the fans can continue to come out and support us.”

Five different Aces scored in double digits including Wilson who had 26 points and 12 rebounds. Wilson went to the free throw line 18 times, making 14 shots.

“It can’t take just one or two people, it takes the team,” said Wilson. “I’m super-duper excited to see that we are all getting the ball, everyone is kind of scoring and sharing the basketball.”

After giving up an average of 103 points in their last two games, the Aces held the Mystics to just 73 points. Prior to tonight’s game, the Mystics averaged 86.67 points per game.

“We really didn’t play defense well (the last two games) the way that we know that our system operates, so we needed to come out with a mindset and say that we weren’t going to let that happen again,” said Wilson.

With the win, the Aces improved to 1-4 on the season.

The Aces will next play the Sky in Chicago on Sunday, June 3^rd. This will be the first meeting of the season between the Aces and the Sky.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 12 Nia Coffey
C – 8 Carolyn Swords
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 15 Lindsay Allen

Photo Gallery: Las Vegas Aces vs. Washington Mystics

Published on June 1, 2018 by psushawnLeave a comment

Aces’ losing streak to 4 games after 101-74 loss to Storm

Published on May 31, 2018June 2, 2018 by psushawnLeave a comment

Photo credit: Seattle Storm

By Shawn McCullough

The Seattle Storm hit a WNBA record 17 3-point shots to rout the Las Vegas Aces 101-74 at KeyArena in Seattle.

A’ja Wilson scored a team-high 21 points with 3 rebounds, while Tamera Young was the only other Aces player scoring in double digits with 11 points.

The Storm went 17 for 26 from 3 point range, breaking the former NBA record for 3 pointers in a game of 16 held by five other teams. The Aces finished the night 1 for 9 from three-point range.

The Aces have now given up 100 or more points in three games this season and in back to back games (both to the Storm).

With the loss, the Aces dropped to 0-4 on the season.

The Aces will next play the Washington Mystics tonight (Friday, June 1^st) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The Mystics beat the Aces in Washington, 75-70, back on Tuesday, May 22^nd.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 12 Nia Coffey
C – 19 JiSu Park
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 15 Lindsay Allen

Aces drop home opener to Storm 105-98

Published on May 27, 2018June 2, 2018 by psushawnLeave a comment

20180527 - A'Ja Wilson 04

Photo credit: Shawn McCullough, Sports Radio Service

By Shawn McCullough

The Seattle Storm put a damper on the Aces star-studded inaugural home opener in Las Vegas with a 105-98 win at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

A’ja Wilson scored a career-high 27 points, going 9-17 from the field, along with eight rebounds.

“I really just took what the defense gave me and it just started to work.” said Wilson. “My teammates really kept feeding me the ball and making me make plays.”

Nia Coffey also scored a career-high 23 points.

“Bill (Laimbeer) is clear and direct with what he saw in me and what he needed me to do,” said Coffey. “During our offense, I make sure that I’m doing what I need to do. I take advantage of the moment and take advantage of the match up to really show what I can do for this team.”

The Aces were able to claw back into the game after being down by 19 points early in the third quarter, but they were unable to overcome 18 turnovers.

“Turnovers have been a bugaboo so far this season,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “There were 18 tonight, that’s too many especially in a tight game. We are going to have our growing pains with some young players, but we have to get those (turnovers) down.”

The first regular season game in Las Vegas for the Aces featured a list of celebrity appearances, including Boyz II Men singing the national anthem, Jabbawockeez performing a halftime show, the cast of Michael Jackson ONE greeting fans entering the arena and Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis attending the game.

With the loss, the Aces (formerly the San Antonio Stars) dropped to 0-3 on the season. The Stars started the 2017 season 0-13 before winning their first game of the season 89-82 over Chicago at home on June 30th.

The Aces will next play the Storm in Seattle on Thursday, May 31st before heading back home to face the Washington Mystics on Friday, June 1st at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes: