Dearica Hamby has 27 points, 15 rebounds as Sparks defeat Phoenix

PHOENIX — Dearica Hamby scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and the Sparks rode a big second quarter to a 97-88 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night.

The Sparks outscored the Mercury 35-19 in the second quarter to take a 60-43 at the half, a franchise record for points at halftime. The Sparks shot 11 of 16 in the second, including five of seven on three-pointers, and didn’t miss from the foul line.

Kelsey Plum had 16 points and seven assists for the Sparks (2-3), who were playing their first road game. Nneka Ogwumike and reserves Cameron Brink and Rae Burrell each scored 12 points and Ariel Atkins had 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.

Both teams were coming off a home loss to the expansion Toronto Tempo.

The Sparks only made five of 17 shots in the fourth quarter but still shot 48% (31 of 64) from the field for the game. The Sparks were 14 of 24 from the three-point line through three quarters but went 0 for 8 the rest of the way to finish one three-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.

The Mercury got no closer than nine in the second half.

Honoring the 30th year of the WNBA the Mercury, one of the league’s original teams along with the Sparks, wore uniforms matching their original ones and had the old logo at midcourt.