Road Gauntlet is Next for Tulsa

Originally Published: Jul 14, 2010 7:10 PM CDT

David Goff
Oklahoma Sports Intern

TULSA, Oklahoma-- The Tulsa Shock continued its month-long slump with an 87-71 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. The Shock’s losing streak has ballooned to 12 games. The Shock is only one loss away from tying a franchise record 13-straight losses.

Unfortunately, its hardships may only have just begun as they begin a seven-day road trip. The team faces the San Antonio Silver Stars, Phoenix Mercury and Sparks.

“That’s going to be murder’s row, especially the way we are playing right now,” head coach Nolan Richardson said. “Our young ladies’ confidence has to be shattered.”

However, Kara Braxton said that this road trip will actually be a good thing for the struggling Shock.

“It’s almost kind of good for us to go on the road,” she said after Tuesday’s loss. “We’re more focused, away from family [and] it’s not a comfort zone. So, we just [need] to go out there focused to win.”

While none of the teams on the Shock’s upcoming road trip have winning records, those teams will have the home court advantage. Of Tulsa’s three wins, only one has come on the road, a 94-82 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on May 23rd.

The team has only managed 78.9 points while giving up 93.4 points per game away from the BOK Center. In two of those losses, the opponent scored in triple digits. Scholanda Robinson (11.7) and Amber Holt (10.1) are the only Shock players averaging double-digits.

The Mercury (7-12) will most likely present the toughest challenge to Tulsa since they are in second place in the Western Conference. The two teams have faced each other twice already this season. In both contests, Phoenix scored over 100 points, including a 116-84 pounding the last time Tulsa traveled to Arizona.

If the Shock cannot manage a win on this road trip, Tulsa will be two losses away from tying the WNBA’s longest losing streak set by the 2008 Atlanta Dream.

“I’m not worried about records at this stage of the game,” Richardson said. “At this stage of the game, it’s all about trying to win a ball game and build some confidence after that.”

The Shock faces off against the Silver Stars July 16th at 7 p.m.