Sky top depleted Mercury

PHOENIX, Arizona — Rookie Diamond DeShields tied a season best with 25 points, Courtney Vandersloot had 17 points and 11 assists and the Chicago Sky beat the short-handed Phoenix Mercury 101-87 on Wednesday in the final game before the All-Star break.

Chicago led by 16 points early in the second half but Phoenix went on an 11-2 run to pull to 61-59.

Chicago opened the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run, capped by DeShields’ offensive rebound and layup, and led by double figures for the final four minutes.

Allie Quigley added 19 points, with five three-pointers, for Chicago, 9-17.

Stefanie Dolson had 13 points for her sixth straight game in double figures.

Chicago shot 67.7 percent from the field (21 of 32) in the first half en route to a 56-43 lead. DeShields made all seven of her first-quarter field goals for 15 points.

DeWanna Bonner had 30 points and 13 rebounds for Phoenix, 15-11, which has lost six of its last seven games.

Phoenix was without Diana Taurasi, who did not play due to a suspension after reaching the WNBA’s technical foul limit of seven.

Phoenix center Brittney Griner picked up her fourth foul with 9:26 remaining in the third quarter. After a review, she was given a flagrant 2 for an elbow to Dolson and was ejected. Last month, Griner was ejected after striking Dolson with a left hand to the face.

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