CHICAGO- The Dallas Wings met the Chicago Sky tonight for the second time this season falling 84-77 inside Allstate Arena.
Veteran Plenette Pierson, led the team for the night scoring 20 points. It was the second time this season Pierson scored 20 points.
The Wings ended the night shooting 78.9 percent behind the line, with Karima Christmas going 5-for-6.
Odyssey Sims contributed with 14 points, while Courtney Paris scored 12 points for the third time this season, and Karima Christmas recorded 11. Paris led the team for the night in rebounds with eight.
Elena Delle Donne led the night for the Sky with 24 points, while Imani Boyette led in boards with eight.
Dallas returns to Arlington to host the Minnesota Lynx, this Sunday, July 17, for Teachers Appreciation Day/Back To School presented by American Fidelity. Tickets are available for purchase at www.dallaswingsbasketball.com.
Dallas Wings Post Game Notes
>Plenette Pierson finished with a team-high 20 points. The 14-year WNBA veteran Pierson hit a career-high five three-point field goals.
>Courtney Paris finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. She shot 6-of-9 from the field.
>Odyssey Sims contributed 14 points, six assists and three rebounds on 5-10 shooting from the field.
>The Wings assisted on 19 of 26 made field goals or 74%. The Sky assisted on 18-of-34 field goals or 52%.
DALLAS WING POST GAME QUOTES
DALLAS WINGS HEAD COACH FRED WILLIAMS
(On the game plan…)
“To come out better defensively. It was a low scoring game, especially in the first half. Make some plays on offense. The second half we did not execute well, shooting from the outside. We did get possessions that we wanted.”
(On offensive struggles…)
“We still played hard defensively, holding a team to 35 points in the first half, against a good scoring team in Chicago. We are missing a key piece in Glory Johnson. We had to put a few players in different roles tonight that they usually don’t play. We just have to stay at it. This is an offensive league; you have to score points. They do not think about defense; you have to score points.”
(On gaining momentum…)
“A lot of preparation during film, there are breakdown practices that you have that are allotted to us as a team. Try to breakdown some things that weren’t working for us in the first half of the season, and just improve on them.”
WINGS FORWARD KARIMA CHRISTMAS
(On the game plan heading into tonight…)
“Just not giving them as much points in the paint. Last time they had maybe 48 points at our house. Just trying to limit them with that, and limit Delle Donne’s touches. First half we did an ok job; second half we did a little bit better. We just have to get stops down the stretch.”
(On offensive struggles…)
“We are still playing hard; it is just trying to get those shots to drop. We are open, so we just have to continue to take those shots and have more confidence in ourselves. We are all great players on our team; we just have to be able to knock those shots. Other teams are going to knock down their shots.”
(On carrying momentum into the Olympic break…)
“We have three more games and we have to get them. They are all teams we have seen recently. Just working on the things we didn’t do as well in the last games, and try to come out with three wins this week is something we need to focus on, getting momentum into the break.”
WINGS FORWARD PLENETTE PIERSON
(On the game plan…)
“We were trying to play aggressive defense, and make them do different things and take difficult shots.”
(On offensive struggles…)
“We are taking great shots, we are passing the ball, we are getting it where it needs to be. They just aren’t falling for us. Eventually we will dig ourselves out of this hole.”
(On carrying momentum in August…)
“We just keep doing us. We don’t worry about anyone else. We just keep doing us, keep working on us, and keeping playing together as a team.”