Vandersloot, Sky Look to Improve in Final Preseason Game
Thu, May 28, 2015, 3:37 AM
Score by Quarter
Los Angeles (1-0) 21 17 17 21 76
Chicago (1-1) 15 17 22 13 67
UNCASVILLE- On Wednesday night the defending Eastern Conference Champion Chicago Sky took the court for their second preseason game of the year as they hosted the Los Angeles Sparks at Mohegan Sun Arena. Despite a 15-point performance from point guard Courtney Vandersloot, the Sky was unable to overcome a 12-point deficit falling to the Sparks 76-67.
The game featured rookie Cheyenne Parker’s first WNBA career start with the Sky. Parker took advantage of the opportunity contributing two points and three rebounds in her first six minutes of action. The Sky, however, struggled to score in the fist trailing 15-21 at the end quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, Vandersloot went on a five-point run of her own to cut the lead to four, 24-29. The Sky lost momentum for a short time when Vandersloot was forced to the bench with her third personal foul, however, they finished the half strong with four unanswered points to put the halftime score at 32-38.
After a slow start to the second half, the Sky put together a 10-0 run to cut the lead again to just two, 42-44. Vandersloot initiated the run midway through the third with a three pointer, followed by three field goals from Elena Delle Donne.
“I’m just going to continue to be aggressive and be a threat because we have so many options that the defense tries to take away,” said Vandersloot. “Obviously we have Elena and Cappie to score but there’s been pressure on them so I have to be able to make open shots and I think that’s what happened tonight.”
Vandersloot was the only Sky player that finished in double digits for the night with 15 points, including a 3-for-3 effort from behind the arc, as the Sky fell 76-67. The Sparks used a balanced scoring attack, led by 15 points and 10 rebounds from Nneka Ogwumike and 11 points apiece from Jantel Lavender and Erin Phillips.
“The biggest thing is we just need to clean up our defense from the start,” said Sky guard/forward Delle Donne. “Offensively we get to run in transition and do the fun stuff if we start with good defense.”
Chicago will look to tune up their defense as they round out preseason play with a game on Thursday night against the Chinese Olympic Team at 4:00 p.m. CT in Connecticut. The team’s roster will be finalized to 12 by June 4, prior to the Sky opening its 10th season at Allstate Arena on June 5th against the Indiana Fever. To purchase tickets call 866.SKY.WNBA.