SPARKS REPORT

at New York, 4 PDT, Lifetime

* Site--Madison Square Garden.

* Records--Sparks 2-1, Liberty 2-1.

* Record vs. Liberty (1998)--1-2.

* Update--The Sparks, who survived training camp and their first three games without significant injury, picked up one at a Madison Square Garden practice Thursday. Nina Bjedov, the 6-foot-6 Yugoslav forward, sprained her left ankle and is doubtful for tonight. Bjedov was six for eight from the floor in her two games and Coach Orlando Woolridge had promised her major minutes tonight. Los Angeles gets no sympathy from the Liberty, a team finding its way without its best rebounder, Rebecca Lobo, who blew out a knee 42 seconds into the season. With Lobo out for the season, New York activated ex-Long Beach StingRay and Olympic team center Venus Lacy. She makes her debut tonight. Both teams are coming off losses. New York was flattened at home Monday by Washington, 83-62. Los Angeles blew big leads in each half and wilted in the stretch at Orlando on Tuesday, 88-86, the expansion Miracle’s first win. Woolridge watched a tape of the game Wednesday and said he saw nothing that changed his on-site analysis. “It’s clear to me we need to get mentally tougher and more physical when times get tough,” he said. “We were in control for most of that game, yet in the last three minutes, Orlando got every loose ball and every offensive rebound.” This is the tough part of the Sparks’ longest-ever trip (five games in 10 days) because 24 hours after tonight’s game Los Angeles plays at Charlotte. The team finishes its trip Tuesday at Houston, returning home to play Minnesota next Thursday at the Great Western Forum.