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Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 9, 2001
Miracle ends skid to avoid last place
ORLANDO -- Miracle coach Carolyn Peck was nothing but smiles following her team's 73-67 win against Detroit Sunday.
Who knows how good Peck would have felt if the Miracle hadn't had to fight down to the final seconds against the league's worst team to avoid falling into the basement themselves.
Taj McWilliams-Franklin scored all her 19 points in the second half, and had 10 rebounds as Orlando (5-10) snapped a four-game losing skid. Shannon Johnson also scored 19, her season high.
"It felt like we're almost back to normal," Peck said.
"We played very focused, we did some nice things offensively and got to the free-throw line. Defensively, we wreaked a lot of havoc."
With 55.5 seconds remaining, McWilliams-Franklin's two free throws broke a tie at 64. She made all nine free throws.
On the Shock's ensuing possession, McWilliams-Franklin followed with one of her career-high five blocked shots. That lead to Nykesha Sales' three-pointer from the left wing, giving Orlando a five-point lead with 35.8 seconds to play.
Detroit closed within 70-67 with 18 seconds to go on a three-pointer by Edwina Brown.
But the Miracle kept the Shock at bay on a free throw by Elaine Powell, who finished with 14 points, and two by Johnson.
The sluggish Miracle trailed by as many as 10 points early before closing out the first half with a 21-6 run. Shannon Johnson scored the half's last seven points as Orlando led 36-31 at halftime.
HOLDSCLAW THE FANS' FAVORITE: Washington forward Chamique Holdsclaw will go to the All-Star Game as the top vote-getter.
Holdsclaw got 105,006 votes in fan balloting, and will lead the Eastern Conference as a starter for the third year in a row. The game is July 16 in Orlando.
Other starters are Washington guard Nikki McCray and three New York players -- guard Teresa Weatherspoon, center Tari Phillips and Vickie Johnson.
Forward Tina Thompson of Houston was the leading vote-getter for the Western Conference with 93,901. Other starters are Houston guard Janeth Arcain and three Sacramento players -- center Yolanda Griffith, forward Ruthie Bolton-Holified and guard Ticha Penicheiro.
Reserves, to be chosen by the league's eight coaches, will be announced Wednesday.
CLEVELAND 63, HOUSTON 53: Helen Darling scored a career-high 18 points as the Rockers snapped the Comets' seven-game home winning streak.
Darling was 6-of-8 from the floor, including 3-for-4 on three-pointers, to help Cleveland improve to 12-5.
Late in the game, with Houston trailing 60-51, Chancellor was ejected for the first time.
NEW YORK 58, INDIANA 56: Phillips hit two free throws with four seconds remaining and finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds in the Liberty's win in Indianapolis.
Phillips shot 11-of-15 from the field and snapped a 56-all tie by converting her only free throw attempts of the game.
After Phillips gave New York the lead by hitting two free throws, Indiana inbounded to Jurgita Streimikyte, whose last-second shot bounced off the rim.
LATE WEDNESDAY: Trisha Fallon scored 16 points and Jennifer Gillom added 15 as Phoenix rallied in the second half to beat Washington 66-52.