Chicago Sky and Los Angeles Sparks win: WNBA Roundup – June 10, 2011 – Part 2
Chicago Sky 78 - Connecticut Sun 75
Centre Sylvia Fowles scored a game-high 23 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 11-for-19 from the field, as the Chicago Sky beat the Connecticut Sun 78-75 at Allstate Arena.
Courtney Vandersloot added 18 points and five assists, shooting 4-for-4 from three-point range, while forward-centre Michelle Snow ended with 12 points and four rebounds for Chicago. Guard Epiphanny Prince racked up 11 points and forward Cathrine Kraayeveld
also pulled down 11 rebounds for Sky.
For Connecticut, who defeated Washington Mystics 89-73 in the previous game, guard Renee Montgomery scored a team-high 22 points and four rebounds while Asjha Jones punctuated 20 points,.
Chicago opened the first quarter on a 5-0 run and held a 23-16 lead at the end of the quarter. Vandersloot scored 11 of her 18 points in the first 12 minutes of the game. Connecticut were back into the contest in the second quarter though and cut their deficit
to three points only, 28-31, with 04:05 to go in the quarter. However, Chicago held on and carried a two-point lead, 37-35, at halftime.
Sun continued to press hard and always remained within the striking distance throughout the second half. In fact, they tied the game twice, the last of the deadlock coming on a terrific jumper by the forward player Asjha Jones with just 44 seconds left in
the game. Fowles however forced a three point play in the clutch and led Chicago to a hard fought win.
Los Angeles Sparks 98- Phoenix Mercury 84
Forward Candace Parker headed all players with 22 points, eight rebounds, and five assists as the Los Angeles Sparks cruised past the Phoenix Mercury 98-84 at Staples Center.
Tina Thompson posted 21 points, shooting 7-for-11 from the field, and pulled down nine rebounds for the Sparks, DeLisha Milton had 18 points while guard Kristi Toliver came off the bench with 17 points in the win.
Forward Penny Taylor led Mercury with 18 points, eight rebounds, and four assists while guard Temeka Johnson contributed 16 points. Candice Dupree scored 12 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and DeWanna Bonner finished with 10 points and nine rebounds
for Phoenix, who beat Los Angeles in four of their five games during last season.
In a tightly contested first quarter, Milton-Jones nailed a jumper in the closing seconds to put the Sparks ahead by one point, 31-30. Los Angeles came out with a bang in the second quarter and outscored Mercury 23-10, stretching their lead to 54-40 at halftime.
Phoenix did not get closer than nine points throughout the second half as the Sparks walked away with a huge margin victory.
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