STINGRAYS TODAY

Opponent--Atlanta Glory.

Time--4 p.m.

Records--Long Beach 20-15, Atlanta 14-22.

Site--Pyramid, Long Beach State.

Update--The StingRays’ playoff drive from a conference-leading position has turned into a struggle to hang on to second place. Long Beach has lost three of its last four, tumbled out of first place and trails Portland (23-15). The StingRays now must worry about San Jose (19-19) moving up from third. In Denver on Friday, Long Beach pounded Colorado in the first half, 45-29, but was beaten by an Xplosion second-half comeback, 70-69. Today’s opponent, Atlanta, is also struggling. The Glory, led by player-coach Teresa Edwards, is third in the ABL East and 3-7 over its last 10. Atlanta is 3-5 since being routed Jan. 6 by the StingRays, 106-78. Not even the recent return of Olympian Katrina McClain has turned the Glory around--Atlanta is 1-3 since her return. Long Beach Coach Maura McHugh hopes for more production today from center Venus Lacy, who had only four points in 18 minutes after experiencing breathing problems at Denver. Three days earlier, against Colorado at the Pyramid, she had 27 points and 13 rebounds.