McBride scores 16 as Stars beat Sky 92-74
SAN ANTONIO — Kayla McBride scored 16 points to lead a balanced offense and the San Antonio Stars rolled to a 92-74 victory over Chicago Sky on Tuesday night.
Danielle Adams had 14 points, Sophia Young-Malcolm added 12 and Shenise Johnson 11 for San Antonio (13-14). Jia Perkins scored 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting in her first game in a month.
Epiphanny Prince had 23 points, Jamierra Faulkner added 19 and Sylvia Fowles scored 14 for Chicago (10-16).
The loss, combined with New York's 80-76 overtime victory against Washington, dropped the Sky 1 1/2 games behind the Liberty for the East's fourth and final playoff spot.
Trailing 48-37 at the break, Chicago opened the second half on a 9-4 run before veterans Hammon and Young-Malcolm helped San Antonio regain its footing. The Stars led 70-56 lead entering the fourth.
Each team made its first four shots and combined to shoot 62 percent from the field in the opening period.
Prince had all but one of the Sky's first four baskets and Becky Hammon capped the Stars' run with a 3-pointer to give them a 9-8 lead with 7:47 left in the first quarter.
Prince had 16 points in the first quarter, going 6 for 7 on a series of midrange jumpers and drives, but had only seven points the rest of the game.
San Antonio had 10 assists on its 11 baskets in the first quarter and finished with 27 assists.
Johnson's 3-pointer gave San Antonio a 34-24 lead with 7:38 remaining in the half.
Chicago cooled after a hot start, going scoreless for nearly 5 minutes bridging the first and second quarters as San Antonio built a 36-24 lead.
After missing 11 games since straining a hamstring June 26 against Atlanta, Perkins received a loud ovation upon entering 3 minutes into the second quarter. She missed her first 3-point attempt before making her next two and a running jumper to give San Antonio a 44-29 lead with 4 minutes left in the first half.
The Sky are still without starters Elena Delle Donne and point guard Courtney Vandersloot, who is out with a knee injury. Delle Donne, who has missed all but nine games due to Lyme disease, could return for Thursday's home game against New York..