Sky shows some pride

The Chicago Sky might not have a playoff spot.

But it's clear the players have pride.

Just three days ago, the Sky was officially eliminated from the WNBA playoffs with a road loss to the New York Liberty.

But there was no head-hanging Tuesday night at the UIC Pavilion.

The Sky (12-20) used a 13-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter to bury the Washington Mystics 78-59 in front of 3,087.

"It was very important (to show some pride)," said Sky guard Armintie Price, who scored 14 points and was one of four Sky players in double-figures. "This is still our homecourt and we still want to finish up strong."

That desire was evident all through the fourth quarter, when the Sky players were diving for loose balls, going aggressively after rebounds and defending hard.

Emotions on both sides ran so high that at one point, back-to-back fouls were called - on a jump ball. And normally mild-mannered Sky center Sylvia Fowles was whistled for a technical foul.

"It was kind of tough (learning of the team's elimination from the playoffs) and people were upset, throwing towels in the locker room, things like that," Price said. "It was just being really just disappointed with ourselves because we have a lot of talent on this team. But we said, let's not go out (against the Mystics) with our heads hanging down."

Sky guard Jia Perkins reached her average with a game-high 17 points. Candice Dupree also hit her average by chipping in 16 points. Fowles added 11 points.

Forward Tasha Humphrey led the Mystics (10-21) with 15 points.