CHICAGO — Winning on the road is tough enough. Falling behind by 18 points at halftime makes it all the more difficult.
Dearica Hamby had game-highs of 24 points and 13 rebounds and Kia Nurse had 17 points, but the Sparks could not overcome a slow start in an 83-73 loss to the Chicago Sky on Thursday night at Wintrust Arena.
Marina Mabrey scored 20 points and tied a career high with six 3-pointers, while Elizabeth Williams had 17 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots as Chicago (3-3) earned its first home win of the season.
Mabrey gave Chicago a 21-point lead with 6:59 remaining in the third quarter. The Sparks (2-5) battled back, closing on a 20-8 run to get within 67-58 entering the fourth. The Sky committed 10 fouls in the third quarter, turned it over six times and allowed 27 points.
The Sparks were within 78-69 with 2:16 left after rookie Rickea Jackson completed a three-point play, but Sky rookie Angel Reese made a shot in the lane on back-to-back possessions to extend Chicago’s lead to 82-69.
Jackson (10 points, five rebounds) and fellow rookie Cameron Brink (seven points, six rebounds) are still trying to grow into their roles, but the Sparks had more turnovers (18) than assists (17). Chicago moved the ball more efficiently (27 assists on 32 field goals) and opened an 11-point lead after one quarter and on its way to a 49-31 halftime cushion.
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Dana Evans had four of the Sky’s 13 steals and added 15 points. Chennedy Carter scored 14 points for Chicago. Reese picked up her fifth foul with 8:22 left in the fourth and finished with six points and six rebounds in 25 minutes. Evans scored 11 points in the first half and Carter added 10 as the Sky shot 51% from the field before the break and led by as many as 20 points.
The Sparks are still searching for a win against any team that could be considered a legitimate playoff contender. Their two victories came against the winless Washington Mystics (0-7) and the struggling Indiana Fever (1-8), and Indiana’s lone win came at the Sparks’ expense at Crypto.com Arena.
