Check out the latest highlights from Beard, Lennox, Nolan, Augustus and more.
ALANA BEARD LEADS WASHINGTON PLAYOFF PUSH
Alana Beard is doing everything she can to make sure Washington is part of the 2008 WNBA Playoffs. In her four games this week, Beard scored a combined 88 points, leading her team in scoring in each game. Against Los Angeles on August 9, the All-Star guard’s game-high 22 points helped secure an 80-75 win. Despite losing their next two games, Beard still produced on the offensive end with 13 and 25 points against Seattle and Sacramento respectively.
As Washington fight to keep a hold on the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, Beard dug deep and produced one of her best efforts of the season against Connecticut on August 14. With Washington down by as much as 13 points, Beard single-handedly brought her team back. She scored all 18 of Washington’s points in the fourth quarter. It was a truly amazing performance, as she outscored the whole Connecticut team by herself in the fourth quarter and finished up with 28 points to get the 65-64 win.
Listen to the Alana Beard live Q&A on HOOPSTALK
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CAREER NIGHT FOR BETTY LENNOX
Betty Lennox had her best scoring night in the WNBA on August 11 against Washington. Shooting 12-for-18 from the field and 10-for-12 from the free-throw line, Lennox’s 34 points, combined with Lauren Jackson’s 24 points, led Seattle to a 91-68 win. In her two other games this week, Betty Lennox also scored in double figures. Against Detroit on August 9, Lennox had 13 points and five rebounds. On August 14, Lennox chipped in 15 points and six rebounds in an 81-67 win for Seattle.
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NOLAN PICKS UP HER FIRST PLAYER OF WEEK AWARD
Deanna Nolan’s hard work and excellent play for Detroit was rewarded this week with her first ever WNBA Player of the Week Award. Nolan, Detroit’s leading scorer, has powered her team all year long and to the best record in the WNBA. In each of Detroit’s four games, Nolan was the team’s leading scorer, with her best effort coming on August 11 against Indiana. Nolan had a double-double with a game-high 26 points and ten rebounds in the 74-69 win. Nolan finished the week with 83 points in four games.
Listen to the Deanna Nolan live Q&A on HOOPSTALK
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28 IS MAGIC NUMBER FOR AUGUSTUS
Seimone Augustus is making a late surge to take the WNBA regular-season scoring title from Seattle’s Lauren Jackson. In each of Minnesota’s two games this week, Augustus scored 28 points. On August 12, she scored 28 points, but it wasn’t enough as they lost to Los Angeles on the road 89-80. Two nights later in Seattle, Augustus produced another game-high 28-point performance in the 81-67 loss. Heading into the final weeks of the WNBA season, she is averaging 23.0 points a game, just behind Lauren Jackson’s 23.6 points-per-game average.
