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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 4:11 a.m., Monday, June 23, 2008

WNBA: Candace Parker dunks in Sparks' win

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Los Angeles Sparks' Candace Parker dunks in the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Sunday, June 22, 2008, in Los Angeles. The Sparks won 77-63.

GUS RUELAS | Associated Press

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LOS ANGELES — Candace Parker became the second woman to dunk in a WNBA game and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Indiana Fever 77-63 Sunday night.

Parker took a pass from Raffaella Masciadri, dribbled the length of the court and dunked with her right hand with 29 seconds to play. Lisa Leslie is the only other WNBA player to do it, throwing a shot down during a game in 2002.

Parker finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and four assists. Leslie added 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

DeLisha Milton-Jones and Temeka Johnson had 10 points apiece for the Sparks (9-3), who have won five of six.

Tamika Catchings scored 17 points in her first start of the season for the Fever (6-6), who lost for the third time in four games. Katie Douglas had 11 points and tied her career high with five steals.

Catchings, who missed the first eight games due to a torn Achilles' tendon, also made three steals to move into fourth place on the WNBA career list.

The Fever narrowed their deficit to 25-23 on LaToya Bond's 3-point basket with 6:44 left in the first half. But the Sparks used with a 14-6 surge to build a 39-26 halftime lead.

Leslie, Johnson and Sidney Spencer each had four points in the run. Indiana scored just one point in a span of 3:54 and failed to score in the final 2:50 of the first half.

The Fever shot a season-low 27.6 percent but scored 22 points off 24 Los Angeles turnovers.