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Chicago (7-9) led by as many as 17 points and
held on as the short-handed Sparks whittled the deficit to
single digits midway through the fourth quarter and again down
the stretch.
Los Angeles made it a six-point game with 1:15 left behind an
11-0 run.
Azura Stevens (15 points) and Nneka Ogwumike (14) led the way
for the Sparks, who fell to 7-9 after losing for the fifth time
in seven games. Dearica Hamby had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Kahleah Copper chipped in 17 points for Chicago, while Marina
Mabrey (15) and Elizabeth Williams (12) followed.
Chicago built separation with an 11-0 run in the first 3:08 of
the third quarter. Courtney Williams capped the spurt with a
running pullup jumper. Los Angeles didn't record its first
points of the quarter until an Ogwumike layup 19 seconds later.
Los Angeles made a comeback attempt with only eight available
players, as point guard Jordin Canada left the game with a
shoulder injury after contributing seven points and four assists
in 15:37. Chiney Ogwumike (foot) missed the game.
Karlie Samuelson (11 points) and Zia Cooke (10) also finished in
double figures for the Sparks.
Mabrey's scorching first half paced the Sky to a 43-38 lead at
intermission. Her 13 points on 4-for-5 shooting included going
3-for-3 from long range. Copper followed with nine points.
The Sky shot 65.4 percent in the first half (17-for-26). While
the Sparks shot just 36.8 percent (14-for-38), they stayed
within two possessions of Chicago thanks in part to forcing 10
Sky turnovers while enjoying a plus-three advantage on the
glass.
Ogwumike scored 12 first-half points to lead the Sparks.
Chicago, which defeated visiting Los Angeles 80-63 on Wednesday,
took a 2-1 advantage in the season series. The Sparks will host
the Sky on Aug. 29.
--Field Level Media
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