Mabrey tied her career high of six 3-pointers
to boost the Sky (3-3), who overcame a 24-point, 13-rebound
effort from the Sparks' Dearica Hamby.
Los Angeles trailed by 21 points early in the third quarter but
whittled the deficit to nine entering the fourth. Hamby asserted
herself on both ends of the floor to help the Sparks (2-5) close
the quarter on a 20-8 run.
Los Angeles could not draw closer the rest of the way. Fighting
foul trouble, Angel Reese hit two key baskets in the final two
minutes while Dana Evans (15 points) and Chennedy Carter (14)
complemented a balanced Sky attack.
Evans added a career-best five steals while Williams had four
blocks. Mabrey contributed seven assists and seven boards.
Kia Nurse scored 17 points for the Sparks, while Rickea Jackson
followed with 10.
Chicago led by as many as 20 points in the first half and took a
49-31 lead into the break.
After surrendering the first basket of the night, the Sky surged
ahead on a Mabrey 3-pointer from the left wing with 9:10 left in
the opening quarter and seldom looked back.
Evans (11 points), Carter (10), and Mabrey (nine) led Chicago in
the first 20 minutes. The Sky notched 18 assists over that span
while scoring 14 points on 11 Sparks turnovers. Every Chicago
player scored.
Sparks coach Curt Miller was absent from the bench as he
prepares for his induction this weekend into the Mid-American
Conference Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
Miller guided the Bowling Green women's basketball program from
2001-02 to 2011-12, going 258-92.
Assistant coach Nola Henry served as interim coach for Los
Angeles.
The Sky won the rebounding battle 35-33 and shot 42.7 percent
compared to 40 percent for the Sparks.
--Field Level Media [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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