ATLANTA (AP) – Nalissa Smith scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to help the Indiana Fever snap a 20-game losing streak with the NBA with a 90-87 win over the Atlanta Dream on Sunday.
The Fever (1-2) has had 20 losses in a row dating back to last season to tie the Tulsa Shock for all-time losing streak. Indiana lost its last 18 games last season before losing its first two games of the year.
The game featured seven draws and 20 lead changes and the score hung in the balance when Phifer made a successful challenge to the coach with 16.7 seconds left while leading 88-87.
After Indiana fell short, Alyssa Gray took a long quick rebound in the bottomcourt and drove to Kelsey Mitchell. A foul was called but Fever head coach Christie Sides challenged it. After review, the officials determined that there was not enough contact to justify a foul.
Indiana got the ball out of bounds and after a foul, Mitchell made the offensive rebound and was fouled. She made two free throws with 13.2 seconds left and Ryan Howard was just off the mark for the Atlanta 3-pointer in the final seconds.
Howard led Atlanta (1-2) with 23 points, Cheyenne Gray with 21 points and Gray with 19 points.
Sky 94, Wings 88
CHICAGO (AP) — Marina Mabry posted season-highs with 23 points and eight assists, Alana Smith grabbed her first career double-double and the Sky beat the Wings.
Smith scored six of her 14 points in the last two-plus minutes and finished with 12 rebounds and six assists—both career highs.
Kahleh Cooper scored 16 points, Dana Evans 14 and Courtney Williams 12 with 11 rebounds and five assists for Chicago. The 20-year-old rookie, Seka Kone, scored 10 points and six rebounds. The 6-foot-3 forward was a third-round pick by New York but was waived by Liberty on May 16.
Crystal Dangerfield hit a 3-pointer to put Dallas (2-1) up 71-70 early in the fourth quarter but Evans responded with a pull-hit and then fumbled, Cooper returning her fumble before Smith hit the jumper. for a 9-0 spurt with 6:46 to play and the Sky led the rest of the way.
Ariki Ogunbwale scored 27 points and Sato Sabali had 24 points and eight rebounds for the Dallas team.
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