MVP Delle Donne, Chicago Sky hold off Dallas Wings
After falling behind by as many as 18 points in the first half Sunday, the Dallas Wings failed to close out their homestand with a victory, losing to the Chicago Sky 92-87 at College Park Center.
Odyssey Sims tied a Dallas season high with 23 points, including 14 during a second-quarter rally, and made a season-best 9 field goals on 22 shots.
The Sky (2-4) shot 58.6 percent from the field and got double-digit scoring from six players, including 14 from reigning league MVP Elena Delle Donne.
We had opportunities to make shots and pull into the game, but we just didn’t put the shots down.
Wings coach Fred Williams
“[Chicago] made some plays, and I thought they moved the ball well on us and they made shots,” Wings coach Fred Williams said. “We had opportunities to make shots and pull into the game, but we just didn’t put the shots down.”
Each time the Wings (3-3) got within single digits, Chicago had an answer.
Dallas was within 69-63 after three quarters, but the Sky went on a run to lead by 14 with 1:55 to play. The Wings made one more run, holding the Sky scoreless from there, but ran out of time.
“Told us a lot about our team, that we have a lot of fight,” Williams said. “We still have a lot of things to learn. We’re still a fairly young team. All in all, we fought hard. They made shots and we didn’t.”
The Wings started out fast behind guard Erin Phillips, who was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws. She then hit a straight-on 3 for six quick points to get Dallas within 11-10 with 7:16 remaining in the first.
Sims hit a 3-pointer to give Dallas its first lead at 13-11, and Karima Christmas added another 3 to make it 16-11 at the 5:27 mark.
Chicago, though, responded with a 17-4 run to end the frame and held a 28-20 lead after the first quarter.
We always had to play catch up.
Wings guard Odyssey Sims
The Wings’ woes continued in the second — shooting 1 for 13 in a span of 7:59 since owning the five-point margin until their first points of the second quarter at the 7:28 mark. By then, the Sky was up 37-22.
“We always had to play catch up,” Sims said.
Dallas trailed 49-31 with 3:17 to go in the second before rallying behind Sims, who finished with 17 first-half points.
“We just have to fight back,” said Sims, who scored 16 straight points for Dallas from the end of the second quarter to the start of the third. “I think our fight was there, but our defense just has to get better.”
Jordan Hooper finished with 14 points off the bench for the Wings and had her second straight game with four 3-pointers.
Chicago | 28 | 28 | 13 | 23 | — | 92 |
Dallas | 20 | 27 | 16 | 24 | — | 87 |
CHICAGO (92): Breland 3-7 0-0 6, Delle Donne 5-10 2-2 14, Faulkner 6-9 1-2 13, Pondexter 8-14 2-2 18, de Souza 3-8 0-0 6, Boyette 5-5 0-0 10, Laney 0-0 0-0 0, Quigley 5-8 1-1 13, Vandersloot 1-1 0-0 2, Young 5-8 0-0 10. Totals 41-70 6-7 92.
DALLAS (87): Christmas 3-7 6-6 14, Paris 3-9 3-5 9, Phillips 3-8 5-5 13, Pierson 3-10 3-3 10, Sims 9-22 2-2 23, Hamblin 0-0 0-0 0, Hooper 5-11 1-2 14, Kiesel 0-1 0-0 0, Powers 0-7 4-4 4. Totals 26-75 24-27 87.
3-Point Goals—Chicago 4-7 (Quigley 2-2, Delle Donne 2-4, Faulkner 0-1), Dallas 11-27 (Hooper 3-6, Sims 3-8, Christmas 2-3, Phillips 2-4, Pierson 1-3, Powers 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Chicago 39 (Boyette 8), Dallas 43 (Paris 9). Assists—Chicago 28 (Faulkner 9), Dallas 18 (Christmas 6). Total Fouls—Chicago 24, Dallas 15. Technical Fouls—Chicago defensive three second. A—5,297 (7,000).
This story was originally published May 29, 2016 at 8:16 PM with the headline "MVP Delle Donne, Chicago Sky hold off Dallas Wings."