Dearica Hamby had a great night helping the Sparks beat Chicago 77-62
Los Angeles Sparks #30 Nneka Ogwumike (F) left- handed layup is being challenged by Seattle Storm # 13 Ezi Magbegor (F) at the Cyrpto.com Arena. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Sparks, with Nneka Ogwumike scoring 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Jordan Canada and Dearica Hamby starting at center both with 16 points to help beat the Chicago Sky 77-62.
Chiney Ogwumike didn't suit up for the game, but Hamby did a great job as the starting center, and Canada was solid in pushing the ball upcourt that allowed easy baskets for the Sparks.
Layshia Clarendon gave the Sparks a 7-0 lead with a jump shot in the paint, and later Chicago called a timeout. The Sky would trail 7-2 with a layup by Alanna Smith. The Sparks would go up 13-2 with a jump shot by Dearica Hamby.
The Sparks would increase their lead to 15-6 with a layup by Nneka Ogwumike running the floor. The Sparks led 20-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Chicago trailed 20-16 in the second quarter with a driving layup by Kahleah Copper. Los Angeles led 29-20 with a left-handed layup by Ogwumike.
Smith would knock down a three-pointer at the top of the key had the Sky trailing 35-31 with 1:11 left before halftime. The Sparks led 37-34 at halftime. In the video below, Nneka and Dearica talks about playing with each other on the court.
Ogwumike led the Sparks in scoring at halftime with 15 points, and Hamby with 11 points. Smith was the leading scorer for Chicago with 11 points, Kahleah Copper with 8 points, and Elizabeth Williams with 6 points.
Jordin Canada's pull-up jump shot in the paint gave the Sparks a 39-35 lead in the third quarter. Chicago would tie the game 41-41 with a three-point jump shot by Marina Mabrey.
Lexie Brown would give the lead back to the Sparks 43-41 with a jump shot. Chicago would take the lead 46-45 with a three-pointer by Smith.
Zia Cooke would make a three-pointer to give the Sparks a 50-46 lead. The Sparks would lead by ten points,58-48, at the end of the third quarter.
The Sparks would call a timeout after Dana Evans went up for a layup making the score 58-51 in the fourth quarter. Canada would drive to the basket and score with a fall-away jump shot to give the Sparks a 60-53 lead.
Elizabeth Williams' reverse layup had Chicago down by two points, 60-58, with 6:45 left in the game. Ogwumike, with a hook shot, gave the Sparks a 64-60 lead.
Canada would make two free throws to give the Sparks a 69-62 lead. With 2:12 left in the game, the Sparks would end the quarter on an 8-0 run and beat the Sky 77-62 to pick up their fourth win of the season.
Smith led Chicago in scoring with 19 points, and Elizabeth Williams with 14 points.