LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dearica Hamby snapped a three-game skid by scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Sparks to an 81-72 victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday night.
Hamby has recorded eight double-doubles in 10 games this season against the Sparks (3-7). She made 9 of 16 shots from the floor, 4 of 6 from the free throw line and added four assists.
Lexie Brown scored 16 points (4 of 8 from 3-point range) and had six assists for the Sparks. Cameron Brink had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Arike Ogunbowale had 22 points but made just 10 of 28 shots for Dallas (3-6), which has lost its fourth straight game. Maddy Siegrist had 21 points, making 9 of 11 shots with two 3-pointers. Monique Billings grabbed 12 rebounds and scored eight points.
Brown scored two 3-pointers and eight points to lead Los Angeles 23-20 after one quarter.
Siegrist scored 15 points on 7-for-9 shooting from 3-point range, and Ogunbowale added 14 points to put Dallas ahead 44-38 at halftime. The Sparks’ reserves outscored their opponents 24-0 in the first 20 minutes.
Los Angeles pulled within two points six times in the third quarter before Rickia Jackson tied the score at 56 with 2:37 left. Sevgi Uzun hit a 16-foot pull-up in the final minute and the Wings took a 63-61 lead heading into the final period.
Brown hit a 3-pointer with 7 minutes and 42 seconds left in the game to put LA up 68-67. This was the Sparks’ first lead since 6:43 in the second quarter. The Sparks pushed the lead to seven points, but the Wings fought back to within 75-72 on Ogunbowale’s basket with 1:35 remaining. Brink and Brown responded with back-to-back baskets to help LA hang on.
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