Photo Credit: Vincente Cardenas

The 2013 season for the San Antonio Silver Stars was filled with grit, determination and lots of injuries. On Sunday, Sept. 15, the Stars ended their 2013 campaign on a positive note with a 97-68 win over the Atlanta Dream on Fan Appreciation Night in the AT&T Center.

Stars’ forward Danielle Adams made franchise history in front of 7,486 fans as she scored a record 39 points on 13-for-23 shooting in the victory. Adams also contributed eight rebounds and was 10-for-12 from the free throw line.

“I didn’t even know that, but it’s a great feeling. It’s a team effort. My teammates found me and I just finished plays,” Adams said. “It’s a good way to end the season and it’s a good beginning for next season.”

The season was marred with injuries to key players Becky Hammon and Sophia Young at the beginning of the season. The Stars were also without guards Danielle Robinson and Davellyn Whyte, who suffered injuries towards the end of the season.

Head Coach Dan Hughes viewed Sunday afternoon’s game as a starting point for the 2014 season, as opposed to a disappointing closing note to this one.

“This game for us is a start for 2014. The situation we had was unprecedented in a lot of ways, yet I feel like we got growth. You got to see some of the growth tonight,” Hughes said. “We got players in situations where, I think down the road, will possibly pay dividends. I just appreciated their ability to hang in there. Tonight is just a good example.”

Stars’ guard Shenise Johnson scored 20 points and dished out six assists while forward Shameka Christon added 24 points.

The Stars end the season with a 12-22 record, good for fifth place in the Western Conference. The win also comes against an Atlanta Dream team that is headed to the Eastern Conference playoffs.

“We said this is our playoff game. This is the first game of 2014 for us. It gives us a chance to end the year on a win,” Hughes said. “I think it’s odd that this year is going to take a little while to figure out. I’m just appreciative for that kind of culture, and that our players hung in as best they could.”