08/02/26 07:29:00
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08/02 19:27 CDT Hamby, Ogwumike lead Sparks past Fire 106-101 after LA trades
Plum to Phoenix
Hamby, Ogwumike lead Sparks past Fire 106-101 after LA trades Plum to Phoenix
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) --- Dearica Hamby scored 23 points, Nneka Ogwumike had 20
of her 22 in the second half and the Los Angeles Sparks --- on a day they
learned star teammate Kelsey Plum was traded --- ended a six-game losing streak
with a 106-101 win over the Portland Fire on Sunday.
Plum, sidelined since June 21 with a leg injury, was sent to the Phoenix
Mercury late Saturday night. The Sparks are now 3-9 without Plum.
Ogwumike hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:25 to play, making it 98-96. Hamby
followed with a layup off an Ogwumike assist. In the last 24 seconds Ogwumike
and Erica Wheeler went 6 for 6 from the foul line.
Wheeler, Ariel Atkins, Rae Burrell and reserve Jihyun Park all added 12 points
for the Sparks (11-17). Hamby and Ogwumike both had 10 rebounds and Wheeler had
eight assists.
Bridget Carleton hit seven 3-pointers and scored 24 points and grabbed 11
rebounds for the Fire (11-19), who lost their fifth straight, four times
allowing 100-plus points. Carla Leite added 21 points and eight assists and
Megan DiLeo scored 19.
Portland took advantage of four offensive rebounds and six Los Angeles
turnovers to lead 29-22 after one quarter. The lead reached 10 in the second
quarter and the Fire were up 49-43 at the break.
Wheeler and Ogwumike had back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Sparks their first
lead since 10-8 at 65-64. Carleton's 3 in the last minute pulled the Fire into
a 72-72 tie entering the fourth quarter.
Up next
Sparks: Play at Chicago on Wednesday.
Fire: The third game of a five-game homestand is Thursday against fellow
expansion team Toronto.
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
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