Related story: Shock notebook: Hodges makes her debut. Energy. Times 10.
"That plays a big part with our team. When we have high energy, you can tell the difference with our team," Latta said. "When we don't have it, it's like we're nonchalant. We don't get out on shooters; we don't talk."
The Shock guard blamed a lack of energy for Tulsa's 15-point deficit after one quarter. And even while the Shock clawed back, tying the game in the second quarter, it did not have enough gumption to sustain dominance for the final three quarters to erase an abhorrent first one. The Connecticut Sun (11-4) took care of the ball, turning the ball over just 10 times, and never trailed in an 86-75 win over the Shock (2-13) in front of 4,318 in the BOK Center Friday.
Tulsa shot 21.1 percent and fell behind 25-10 at the end of the first quarter. When the Shock recovered, Sun star Tina Charles exerted her power on the other end, leading her team with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
"We're a team that there's no margin for error for," Tulsa coach Gary Kloppenburg said. "We've got to play really well, we can't have any types of letdowns in any of those quarters."
Tulsa entered Friday's matchup forcing a WNBA-leading 20.57 turnovers per game. Even in the Shock's losses, it managed to keep itself in the game through turnovers and fast-break points.
The Shock struggled from the tip to force the Sun into its traps, though. In the opening minutes, the Shock sent an extra defender over to try and force a miscue from forward Kalana Greene. But Greene launched a cross-court pass to a wide-open Kara Lawson.
Lawson's triple gave the Sun a 9-0 lead and forced Kloppenburg to call a timeout.
"It's always hard when you get down like that, but it's a long game," guard Temeka Johnson said. "Forty minutes is a long time. But I'd prefer for us to come out throwing the punches."
As Connecticut asserted itself early, it did so in large part without Charles. She picked up her second foul less than five minutes into the first quarter, and sat the last 5:22 of the quarter after scoring four points.
In the second quarter, Tulsa came out with energy. Behind Latta's exuberance, the Shock dropped the lackadaisical act and started making plays. Tulsa went on a 17-2 run to tie the game at 27.
Latta scored 11 of the points. After she tied the game with a 3 from the top of the arc, she backpedaled down the court, jumping up and down and tugging at her jersey with both hands.
"We did catch up," Latta said, "because of high energy."
The energy proved to be fleeting. The Sun called a timeout and regrouped, and played calm, efficient basketball the rest of the quarter.
The Sun went into halftime leading 46-34. The Shock closed within three in the third quarter, but ran out of energy once again.
It is a problem that has hindered the 2-13 squad all season.
"It's very tough because that's a team that has been together for a long time," Latta said. "They barely make changes and they barely bring people in, and it's kind of hard to force turnovers. But we did when we had that energy."
WNBA
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Vs. Washington3 p.m. Sunday
Original Print Headline: Energy is lacking in Shock loss
Mark Cooper 918-581-8355
mark.cooper@tulsaworld.com
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