Sparks cruise to 8th straight victory, 100-77 over Liberty

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

LOS ANGELES (AP) Jantel Lavender scored a season-high 22, Kristi Toliver had 15 of her 19 points in the second half and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the New York Liberty 100-77 on Tuesday night to remain unbeaten.

Los Angeles (8-0) is one win away from tying a franchise record for most consecutive wins to start a season, set in 2001 and matched in 2003.

Nneka Ogwumike had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Essence Carson added 15 points for Los Angeles, which is ranked No. 2 in the AP WNBA power poll. Toliver outscored New York 15-14 in the third quarter as the Sparks built a 30-point lead.

The Sparks scored a season-high 27 first-quarter points and outscored New York 24-15 in the second to take a 51-38 lead. Ogwumike had 13 first-half points, Carson added 10 and the Sparks had 15 assists with just two turnovers.

Los Angeles started the second half scoring 16 of the first 22 points, with nine from Toliver, to build a 67-44 lead.

Shavonte Zellous scored 12 points for fourth-ranked New York (4-4).

Swin Cash announced earlier Tuesday that she will retire at the end of the season. The 15-year WNBA veteran is currently 14th in career scoring with just under 5,000 points. She also is 10th in rebounds.