WNBA Chicago Sky

Copper's 14 PTS Not Enough for Sky to Top Mercury in OT

Published on June 4, 2021 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release


TONIGHT'S GAME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

Sky and Mercury finished a two-game series tonight that began on Tuesday. Phoenix took game one in overtime on a half-court buzzer beating shot from Kia Nurse.

Sky newcomer Dana Evans made her Chicago debut tonight. She finished the game with two points and one rebound.

Stefanie Dolson recorded her 400th career assist in the first quarter on a layup by Kahleah Copper. Dolson finished the game with 12 points and two rebounds in her return to action.

With nine assists in tonight's game, Guard Courtney Vandersloot passed Diana Taurasi to move into 4th place all time in career assists with 1971

Forward Brittany Griner recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, her 46th career double-double.

Skylar Diggins-Smith scored a game high 28 points on 57.5% from the field, leading Phoenix to a second straight comeback win against Chicago.

KEY RUNS

Chicago got off to a quick start, scoring the first six points of the game over the first 1:46 of game time.

The Mercury quickly responded to Chicago's hot start with a 12-2 run of their own over a 4:01 stretch.

After the score got cut to one late in the first half, Phoenix went on an 11-2 run over seven minutes of game time to jump out to a 34-24 lead.

After falling behind by double digits for the first time all night, Chicago opened the second half on a 12-3 run over the first five minutes of the half to take a 38-37 lead.

Over the final 2:54 of the third quarter, Chicago went on an 8-2 run to push out to an eight point lead, their largest lead of the game so far.

The Mercury responded to their biggest deficit of the game with a 14-4 run over 4:51 to cut the Sky lead to 63-60.

Phoenix ended the game on a 5-0 run to send the game into overtime.

After falling behind by two in overtime, the Sky responded with a 7-0 run over 1:31 to grab a 72-67 lead.

Phoenix closed out the game on a 10-2 run over the final three minutes, to win the game 77-74.

KEY STATS

Coming into tonight, Chicago is undefeated away from home with a record of 2-0. Conversely, Phoenix has yet to win a game on their home floor with a record of 0-2.

Sky went 2-15 from three-point range in the first half. In last three games before tonight, Chicago is a combined 17-54 from behind the three.

Chicago finished the game 8-31 from downtown.

The Mercury had six turnovers in the opening quarter, however the Sky could not capitalize with zero points off of those turnovers.

In their last game against Phoenix, Chicago had 31 points off of turnovers.

In tonight's first half, Chicago outscored the Mercury 7-0 in bench points. The Sky finished the game outscoring Phoenix 25-0 in bench points.

Chicago outscored Phoenix 25-9 in the third quarter, while shooting 35% from the floor and holding Phoenix to only 20% shooting.

Just like Tuesday night, Phoenix once again responded to a blown halftime lead, this time outscoring Chicago 34-23 in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Chicago outscored the Mercury 13-6 on second chance points.

Phoenix scored ten of the final twelve points in tonight's game to beat the Sky 77-74. This was Phoenix's second straight win Vs. Chicago.

CHICAGO NOTES

Starting five of Courtney Vandersloot, Diamond DeShields, Kahleah Copper, Stefanie Dolson and Astou Ndour-Fall will be the third different starting five used by the Sky this year.

Allie Quigley returned to action after missing the last six games with a hamstring injury.

Chicago was 1-5 while Quigley was sidelined. She finished the game with eight points and three assists.

The Sky scored 10 points in the second quarter, tying their season-low of points scored in a quarter.

Beginning the game going 3-4 from the field, Chicago finished the first half going 8-29. The Sky finished the game shooting 27-78 from the floor.

Sky newcomer Dana Evans scored her first career points in a Chicago uniform, knocking down two free-throws at the end of the third quarter.

Forward Azurá Stevens reeled in a new season-high ten rebounds, featuring eight of them coming on the defensive end. She finished the game with eight points and ten rebounds.

In her first game back, Stephanie Dolson scored 12 points, including six of Chicago's nine points scored in the overtime period.

PHOENIX NOTES

Forward Brittany Griner scored eight points in the first quarter while shooting 75% from the field. She finished the game with 16 points and 12 rebounds

The Mercury ended the first quarter with a 18-16 lead. Coming into tonight, Phoenix was 4-1 in games when it was leading after the opening quarter.

Skylar Diggins-Smith and Brittany Griner shot a combined 9-14 from the field during the first half, good for 20 of the Mercury's 34 total points through the first two frames. Diggins-Smith and Griner finished the game scoring 54 of the Mercury's 77 points.

The Mercury finished the game with eight blocks. Phoenix came into the game averaging 6.5 blocks per game, the most in the league.

Phoenix Guard Skylar Diggins-Smith finished the game with a new season-high 28 points. Diggins-Smith has scored 52 points combined during this two game series with Chicago, and scored ten straight points for the Mercury late in the fourth quarter.

Check out the Chicago Sky Statistics

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