DeWanna Bonner scores 27 points as Phoenix Mercury edge out Chicago Sky 84-81-WNBA Recap
On Friday night injury riddled Phoenix Mercury sustained a strong comeback by Chicago Sky and edged them out 84-81 here at Allstate Arena.
DeWanna Bonner netted a game high 27 points to go with 7 boards and helped her team bank the 4th win of this season. Bonner admitted that playing with 8 players put a huge responsibility over her shoulders;
“I just wanted to be aggressive and come out and get a win,'' Bonner said. ``We are struggling right now since we only have eight players so I just try to come out and play hard every night and take what the defence gives me.''
Forward Charde Houston tallied 16 points and Samantha Prahalis chipped in with 14 points for Mercury while Avery Warley collected 10 points as Phoenix improved to 4-9 in this season.
On the other hand, Sky skidded down to a 4 game losing streak after this loss, despite the fact; they had 5 players posting double figures. Swin Cash scored a team high 16 points while Eshaya Murphy collected 15 points coming off the bench. Courtney Vandersloot chipped in with 13 points she also handed out 6 assists; forward Tamera Young netted 12 points while Sylvia Fowles recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.
Sky coach Pokey Chatman was not pleased with Sylvia’s effort.
``I don't think Sylvia worked as hard as she needed to work today to get the ball,'' Sky coach Pokey Chatman said. ``I credit Avery, I credit Krystal. It's not an easy task but you've got to outwork people and use your quickness.''
Sky opened the game with a 10-4 run but Houston netted a pair from downtown for Phoenix and tied the scores at 10 apiece. Mercury reeled off a 9-4 burst and chiselled their way out of the stalemate claiming a 19-14 lead. Chicago rebutted with a 7-2 burst (Murphy scoring all 7) and forced the game once more in to stalemate, 21 each. Bonner came up with a jumper at the end of frame and created some breathing space 23-21 for Mercury.
Sky opened the 2nd frame with a 12-5 spurt and claimed a 33-28 lead. The game remained close afterwards and it kept on shifting momentum, as with 01:18 in hand Phoenix were having a fragile 43-41 lead. They concluded the 1st half at 49-43 using a 6-2 burst.
Mercury opened the third with a 12-4 run and grabbed a 61-47 lead. However Chicago trimmed that off to 66-62 using a 15-5 run by the end of quarter.
After some seesaw action in the decisive period, Mercury were having a 78-75 lead with 3:53 to expire. Sky came up with a 7-3 burst and narrowed the gap down to 82-81 with only 13.9 clicks to go. However Krystal Thomas netted a pair of deuce and concluded the game, final score 84-81.
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