Martinez Tribune The website of the Martinez Tribune.
BY HELEN LAME’
Gabby Williams rebounded from a slow start to score 11 points in the final seven minutes to help lead the Valkyries to a 77-73 victory over the Dallas Wings Friday night, giving Golden State their first playoff series win in franchise history.
Tiffany Hayes (L) and Veronica Burton (R) celebrate with teammates after the final buzzer following the Valkyries first round series clinching win over the Dallas Wings Friday night.
Paige Bueckers missed a running jump shot with seven seconds remaining and Veronica Burton grabbed the rebound to finish seal the win for Golden State. The win clinched the three game first round series for the expansion Valkyries, setting up a best of five semifinal showdown with the defending champion Las Vegas Aces beginning Sunday afternoon at Chase Center. Vegas is 6-1 all time against the Valkyries, sweeping all three matchups this season.
Dallas raced out to 53-37 lead midway thru the third quarter behind the hot shooting of Arike Ogunbowale. Coming off a WNBA playoff record 46 points in Game 2, Ogunbowale again led all scorers with 30 points on 11-21 shooting, but Golden State went on a 17-6 run to close the quarter to close their deficit to five points.
Wings guard Aziaha James looks to put up a shot during the Valkyries 77-73 elimination game win over Dallas Friday night.
Williams finished with a team high 19 points for the Valkyries, 17 in the second half, overcoming 6-17 shooting on the night to finish the series with a 25 point average. “I was not good tonight but my teammates just kept telling me to keep my head up and that allowed me to get going in the fourth,” Williams said after the game.
Tiffany Hayes had 18 points and four rebounds off the bench while Burton had her best game of the series with 16 points, ten boards and six assists. Kiah Stokes pulled down 13 rebounds and Kaila Charles added ten points and six boards for Golden State.
Gabby Williams drives to the basket around the outstretched arm of Dallas center Awak Kuier on the way to a team high 25 points during the Valkyries series clinching win over the Wings Friday night.
Paige Bueckers had 17 points and six assists for Dallas but was only 3-14 from the floor. Jessica Shepard contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds in 39 minutes, only missing one minute of action.
Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase collapsed to her knees on the sideline during a time out with 1:40 remaining in the game. She was helped back up and able to address the team moments later and continued calling plays with Golden State assistant coach Kasib Powell describing her as “fine” and in great spirits after the game.
