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Basketball Sat Jul 17 2010
Sky Pull Down Big Win, 80 Points Against L.A.
Okay, Chicago basketball fans. We're past the LeBron madness, Redick is staying in Orlando, and you've reacquainted yourself with Kyle Korver. Meanwhile, across town, the Chicago Sky have been inching ever closer to a .500 season. This is more significant than it might sound; right now, the WNBA is an open field, and the Sky are on target to earn a playoff spot in the challenging Eastern Conference. Especially if they keep playing like they did last night at the Allstate Arena against the L.A. Sparks.
The only lead for L.A. came early in the game; after Chicago pulled away in the final minutes of the first quarter, L.A. just couldn't catch up. The Sky outscored the Sparks 22-14 in the first, and nearly repeated the feat in the second quarter, scoring 21 points to L.A.'s 16. Despite more even scoring throughout the second half, the Sparks couldn't close the gap. The sky scored an impressive 80 points to L.A.'s 68.
While Sky star player Sylvia Fowles (who was honored as MVP for Team USA in the recent WNBA-USA All Star Game) scored only 10 points, her 10 rebounds and spot-on passing game helped her teammates to match or surpass her scoring. All but three Chicago players shot in double-digits, with Tamera Young, Dominique Canty, and Epihanny Prince earning 11 points each, and Mistie Bass joining Fowles with 10. The top Sky scorer was Erin Thorn with 15, thanks to an 83% accuracy from beyond the 3-point line. Thorn matched her season high of five 3-point field goals.
In contrast, L.A.'s scoring was more lopsided, dominated by forward DeLisha Milton-Jones, who scored 21 points (and earned herself five personal fouls in the process). Sparks captain Tina Thompson pulled down 15 points, while forward Noelle Quinn earned 12.
This was the first match-up between Chicago and L.A. this season. Historically, the Sky have won only two games against the Sparks, but the L.A. team is having a weak 5-14 season in 2010. Tomorrow's game against 12-2 Washington may find Chicago's mettle more thoroughly tested but, midway through the season, the team seems to have found its rhythm.
