PHOENIX — Dearica Hamby scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and the Sparks rode a big second quarter to a 97-88 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night, coming out on top in their first road game of the season.
The Sparks outscored the Mercury 35-19 in the second quarter to build a 60-43 lead by the intermission, a franchise record for points at halftime. The Sparks (2-3) shot 11 for 16 from the field in the second quarter, including 5 for 7 from 3-point range, and didn’t miss from the free-throw line.
Hamby shot 7 for 11 from the field and made all 11 of her free throws, recording her first double-double of the season and the 55th of her career to lead six Sparks players who scored in double figures. Kelsey Plum had 16 points and seven assists, while Nneka Ogwumike, and reserves Cameron Brink and Rae Burrell each scored 12 points. Ariel Atkins added 11.
Alyssa Thomas led the Mercury (2-4) with 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Kahleah Copper added 22 points, Jovana Nogic scored 15 and Natasha Mack had 10. Phoenix finished 1-3 on its homestand.
The Sparks’ extended their lead as high as 21 points in the third quarter. Nine unanswered points by Phoenix – the last five from Thomas – cut the gap to 69-59 with 4:42 left in the period.
The Sparks responded with an 8-2 run that was fueled by five points from Hamby. Her three-point play with 2:01 left in the third gave the visitors a 77-61 lead.
Phoenix cut the margin to 92-83 with 3:50 left on a layup by DeWanna Bonner, but Wheeler responded with a 3-pointer 38 seconds later.
The Sparks cooled off in the fourth quarter (5 for 17 from the field) but still shot 48% overall (31 for 64). The Sparks were 14 for 24 from behind the arc through three quarters but went 0 for 8 from deep in the fourth to finish one made 3-pointer shy of the franchise record.
Plum had 14 points at halftime and three teammates had 10, including Ogwumike, which moved her past Tamika Catchings into fifth on the league’s career scoring list.
NOTES
Both teams were coming off home losses to the expansion Toronto Tempo. … Honoring the WNBA’s 30th anniversary, the Mercury, one of the league’s original teams along with the Sparks, wore uniforms matching their original ones and had their original logo at midcourt.
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The Sparks play at Las Vegas on Saturday at 5 p.m.