StingRay Motivation Part of the Program

ATLANTA — After the Long Beach StingRays’ easy 85-71 victory over the Atlanta Glory, both coach and players credited an anonymous game program author for motivational fuel.

For example, regarding the matchup between Atlanta guard Niesa Johnson and Long Beach’s Beverly Williams, the program author wrote: “Johnson’s hard work on defense this year will make it difficult for Williams to find the ball.”

Here’s how that one turned out: Williams had 21 points, eight rebounds; Johnson had five points, one rebound.

Then there was the pairing of Long Beach’s Yolanda Griffith and Atlanta Olympian Katrina McClain: “Griffith’s propensity to turn the ball over could give McClain the edge.”

Griffith finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds . . . and one turnover. Meanwhile, McClain had nine points, nine rebounds and three turnovers.

“Coach [Maura McHugh] read the program to us before the game, and I know it motivated me,” Williams said.

The StingRays (5-2), just as they did Thursday in Philadelphia, took command of the game in the second half and never let Atlanta (3-4) back in the game, which was played at Georgia Tech’s 10,000-seat Alexander Memorial Coliseum, before an announced 2,771.

And Long Beach did it without Venus Lacy, who was held over another day at a Philadelphia hospital for observation after suffering a concussion Thursday.

The StingRays also overcame the absence of the foul-troubled Griffith, who missed much of the second half.

Trisha Stafford, enjoying her best game yet (eight points, five rebounds), went out after she landed on her head after an alley-oop attempt and fall with eight minutes left. She spent the rest of the game being treated with an ice pack.

After gaining a 41-35 halftime lead, Long Beach saw Atlanta creep back to 46-41. But Williams made a 16-foot jumper and Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil made a three-point basket.

Next, Griffith, on the best play of the night, scored on a leaping tip-in of a Williams’ miss and Long Beach had a 53-41 lead with 5:20 left in the third period.

After that, Atlanta, led by player/coach Teresa Edwards, never came closer than 55-49.

Long Beach, which trails only Portland (6-1) in the ABL’s Western Conference, goes to Columbus for a Sunday afternoon game against the Quest (5-2). Then on to Hartford for a game Tuesday.

7 Some may not expected much from Long Beach, which left Philadelphia on a 6:45 a.m. flight Friday and had to nap in the afternoon.

“I’m really proud of how this team pulled together, without a lot of sleep,” McHugh said. “They were tired but they just played through it.”