Nneka Ogwumike scored 20 points with 17 rebounds and Dearica Hamby added 22 points with 12 rebounds as the Los Angeles Sparks ended a three-game losing streak with an 89-72 victory over the visiting Portland Fire on Sunday.
Kelsey Plum scored 16 points with seven assists and Rae Burrell added 10 in the Sparks’ first meeting against the Fire since Portland returned to the WNBA.
Megan Gustafson scored 16 points with 11 rebounds while Carla Leite and Emily Engstler added 10 points each as the Fire set a season high with their third consecutive loss.
The Sparks (5-6) won at home for just the second time in seven games, while the Fire (6-7) fell to 2-3 on the road. Los Angeles improved to 1-2 in Commissioner’s Cup play, while the Fire dropped to 0-3.
The Sparks opened the second half on a 14-2 run for their first double-digit lead at 55-45 with 5:18 remaining in the third quarter.
After Plum did not attempt a field goal in the first half, she responded with nine points in the third as Los Angeles outscored Portland 23-12 to take a 64-55 lead. The Fire were held to 35.7% from the floor (5 of 14) in the third quarter while committing nine turnovers.
The Sparks turned an 11-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter into a 75-57 lead after a putback from Hamby with 6:07 remaining in the game. Los Angeles cruised to the victory from there.
The Sparks allowed a season low in points while holding the Fire to 36.1% from the floor (26 of 72). Los Angeles entered the game last in the WNBA by allowing 93.0 points per game.
The Fire led 43-41 at halftime despite shooting 32.6% from the floor (14 of 43). Gustafson scored 10 points over the opening two quarters for Portland. Ogwumike scored 11 points in the first half for Los Angeles, while Plum had three points, all from the free-throw line. Plum entered leading the WNBA in scoring at 26.9 points per game.
–Field Level Media
