By Alan Snel
LVSportsBiz.com
Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
The Las Vegas Aces enjoyed one of their bigger home crowds this season Tuesday, announcing a crowd of 5,032 fans on a night devoted to focusing on breast health awareness and survivors.
The home fans celebrated the Aces’ overtime win over the Phoenix Mercury, 84-79, as All-Stars Liz Cambage and A’ja Wilson contributed 19 points each. For the Phoenix Mercury, its All-Stars, Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner each scored 24 points.
The game had a playoff feel at the end, as Aces coach Bill Laimbeer said, “It gives me more gray hairs.”
Wilson struggled with her shooting during regulation play, sinking only three of 15 shots from the field but she asserted herself in OT and led the Aces to their 19th win of the season against eight losses. She scored nine of the Aces’ 11 points in overtime.
Phoenix, playing without star Diana Taurasi, is now 13-14 on the 34-game WNBA season.
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The state of Nevada’s other Aces — the Reno Aces of the Triple A Pacific Coast League — lost to the Las Vegas Aviators (Reyes de Plata on home Tuesday night games), 10-4, before an announced crowd of 8,034. The Aviators, thanks to their new $150 million ballpark, have drawn 600,987 fans over 65 home dates, or 9,246 per game.
The Aviators are 75-52, leading their division by a game over El Paso.
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Our Aces postgame talk with Cassandra Cousineau
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