Silver Stars 71, Shock 68

Monday, July 2nd 2007, 7:27 am

By: News On 6

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) _ Erin Buescher had a season-high 23 points and Vickie Johnson made a crucial 3-pointer Sunday in the San Antonio Silver Stars' 71-68 victory over the Detroit Shock.

San Antonio never trailed after Johnson's 3 with 1:15 left in the game. She finished with 12 points as the Silver Stars snapped a two-game losing streak despite playing without starters Ruth Riley and Becky Hammon.

Deanna Nolan scored 24 points and Cheryl Ford added nine points and 12 rebounds for the Shock.

Detroit's Katie Smith was fouled with 5.7 seconds left and her team trailing 69-67, but she missed the second of two free throws.

The Shock led 34-33 at the half and closed the third quarter with a 9-2 run to take a 51-44 lead. San Antonio got back into the game with a 9-2 run to start the fourth quarter. Nolan got an open look at a 3-pointer in the final seconds, but the shot bounced off the rim and into the hands of Buescher, who had a career-best 16 rebounds.

The Shock have lost three of their past four after beginning the season 10-1.

Riley, the San Antonio center who played four seasons with the Shock and was the 2003 finals MVP, was in Detroit for the first time since being traded in the offseason, but missed the game with a sprained left foot. She received her 2007 championship ring before tipoff.

Hammon, the WNBA's fourth-leading scorer at 19.1 points per game, also sat out with a foot sprain.