East holds off West in WNBA All-Star game

Jul 15, 2007, 22:10 GMT

Washington, DC - Cheryl Ford had 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead a balanced attack and garner MVP honors as the Eastern Conference beat the West for a second straight year, 103-99, in the WNBA All-Star Game.

Connecticut's Katie Douglas tallied 18 points and Indiana's Tamika Catchings ended with 15 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the East, who are 2-6 all-time in All-Star contests.

Ford, who plays for the Detroit Shock, went 5-of-9 from the field. As the daughter of NBA legend Karl Malone, Ford seems to be following in the footsteps of her father. Malone was All-Star MVP with the Utah Jazz in 1989 and 1993.

'It was exciting,' Ford said. 'It was a nice award for me, a nice achievement. I didn't come in here expecting to win. I just came to play and show the fans a good show. But I won, and most importantly our team won, the East won.'

DeLisha Milton-Jones of the hometown Washington Mystics, had 11 points, as did Deanna Nolan of the Shock.

Houston's Tina Thompson scored 19 points, while Seattle's Lauren Jackson added 14, and Phoenix's Diana Taurasi and Becky Hammon of San Antonio each had 13 points.

Washington's Alana Beard hit a shot from beyond the arc to cap seven consecutive East points, giving them a 72-62 lead late in the third. It was 78-67 going into the fourth.

The West nearly came all the way back though, getting within 101-98 on a Hammon three in the final minute, capping an 8-0 run. However, Anna DeForge's only two points came at the perfect time for the East, as the Fever guard drained a jumper with 39.3 seconds left.

Hammon made a free throw with 33.4 seconds left, and the West got the ball back following a turnover, but Hammon missed a three and Thompson also missed shot in the waning seconds.

Jackson drained a three-pointer to give the West a 7-2 lead, and they held the advantage throughout the opening quarter. Phoenix's Penny Taylor hit another three in the waning seconds to extend the margin to 28-23 going into the second.

Another three by Jackson moved the West to a 42-31 cushion with 5:19 left in the second, but the East rallied with a flurry to tie the game at 53 at halftime. The East ended the half with an 8-2 run, culminated by consecutive baskets from Chicago's Candice Dupree to even the score.

© 2007 The Sports Network