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Sky earn split with Wings, first win for new coach
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Diamond DeShields scored 16 points and Marina Mabrey added 14 to lead six players in double figures and help the visiting Chicago Sky to an 83-74 win against the Dallas Wings on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

Arike Ogunbowale drilled six 3-pointers among her game-high 35 points for the Wings, who led by as many as 14 but were outscored 28-11 in the fourth quarter.

Chicago earned a season-opening split with Dallas. The teams also met at the College Park Center on Wednesday night, with the Wings prevailing 87-79.

Saturday's matchup saw the Sky flip the script as first-year coach Teresa Weatherspoon earned her first victory. Chicago struggled to find offensive consistency throughout the night but rallied to take a 67-65 lead on an Angel Reese three-point play with 6:29 to go.

Dallas had surged ahead 65-58 with 8:51 left but went cold after that, enduring a scoring drought of 5:14. The Sky scored 14 straight points during that span.

Elizabeth Williams posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago. Dana Evans and Chennedy Carter also scored 12 points. Reese added 11 points to go with nine rebounds. Mabrey added eight rebounds and eight assists.

Chicago scored 34 points off 25 Dallas turnovers.

Kalani Brown (11 points) was the only other Wings player in double figures.

Dallas played without veteran Natasha Howard after she fractured her foot Wednesday. Howard didn't feel pain in the foot until after the game, Wings coach Latricia Trammell said. Stephanie Soares entered the lineup for Howard on Saturday, contributing nine rebounds and four blocks.

The Wings took a 42-30 lead into halftime after limiting the Sky to 28.2 percent shooting, including 1-for-9 from long range, before the break.

Ogunbowale led all scorers with 16 points, proving efficient from both long range (3-for-6) and the free-throw line (5-for-5).

Chicago appeared to trim the lead to eight with 1:22 left before the half on a would-be corner trey from Evans. Officials ruled that Evans stepped out of bounds, however. An Ogunbowale trey moments later shifted the momentum back to Dallas.

This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.

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