Sancho Lyttle scores 20, Phoenix Mercury lose to Sparks
May 27, 2018, 6:15 PM
Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner, left, watches practice with teammate Diana Taurasi on Thursday, May 10, 2018, in Phoenix. Griner, the 2017 WNBA scoring champion, is back from Russia and ready her upcoming season with the Mercury.(AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
LOS ANGELES — An 11-4 run by the Los Angeles Sparks cost the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday.
The Sparks won 80-72.
Mercury forward Sancho Lyttle scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed six rebounds, tied for the most on the team.
It was the first time she’s scored double-digit points as a member of the Mercury. She has averaged six points, 2.7 rebounds and one steal in Phoenix since signing in February.
Sparks guard Chelsea Gray had 23 points and nine assists and center Nneka Ogwumike scored 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
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L.A. forward Candace Parker had 10 in her season debut after missing the first three games with a back injury.
Gray made a layup to give the Sparks (3-1) a 57-47 lead with 6:29 left in the third quarter, but they missed their next eight field-goal attempts before Sparks guard Odyssey Sims hit a 3-pointer to make it 67-65 with 8:55 to play. L.A. led the rest of the way.
Lyttle hit a jumper to pull Phoenix within two points nearly 90 seconds later, but the Sparks answered with an 11-4 spurt – pushing their lead to 80-71 on Gray’s fadeaway jumper in the lane with 1:46 left.
WELCOME TO THE SANCHO SHOW! pic.twitter.com/ey0L9waZaF
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 27, 2018
Phoenix (2-2) committed 10 of its 18 turnovers, and shot 3 of 9 from the field, while being outscored 18-7 in the fourth quarter.
Sancho Lyttle, who had 18 combined points in the first three games of the season, scored 20 for the Mercury.
