Rookie Jovana Nogic places up 27 as Mercury sink Sky

Jovana Nogic scored a career-high 27 points and Alyssa Thomas posted 17 points and 11 rebounds to lift the host Phoenix Mercury to a 91-83 victory against the Chicago Sky on Friday.

Phoenix (2-2) led more much of the night while pushing its advantage to as many as 17 points against the Sky (2-1).

Rickea Jackson drilled a 3-pointer to give the Sky their first lead with 5:49 remaining before the Mercury responded with a pair of Nogic free throws.

Nogic, an undrafted rookie from Providence College, and Jackson, an offseason acquisition in a trade with Los Angeles, dueled down the stretch.

After a Nogic layup put Phoenix ahead by four with 4:38 to play, Jackson scored the next five points to put the Sky up 80-79 with 3:49 to go.

The Mercury scored 12 of the next 15 points to close the game. Kahleah Copper (17 points) and Natasha Mack (10) also wound up in double figures for Phoenix.

Jackson scored 23 of her game-high 29 points after halftime to lead Chicago. Gabriela Jaquez added 13 points, while Kamilla Cardoso grabbed eight rebounds.

Skylar Diggins played just 11:32 for the Sky in the first half before leaving with an eye injury.

The Mercury went 37-for-41 (90.2%) from the free-throw line compared to 19-for-26 (73.1%) for the Sky. Phoenix finished plus-13 on the glass.

Chicago endured an early shooting slump, starting 1-for-10 from the floor, but regrouped to swish six of its next 10 attempts. After surging to a 14-point cushion on a pair of Copper free throws late in the opening quarter, the Mercury led only 23-17 after 10 minutes.

Officials whistled Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts for a technical foul with 7:04 left before halftime for arguing a call. The frustration mounted for the Mercury as they navigated an extended field-goal drought spanning the first and second quarters.

Nogic made a technical free throw for the Mercury in the closing minute of the second quarter to push the hosts’ lead to 15 points, but a Rachel Banham trey and Natasha Cloud layup pulled the Sky to within 45-35 at the break.

Cloud had a game-high seven assists.

Nogic (17 points) and Copper (11) paced Phoenix in the first half while Jaquez led Chicago with nine points.

–Field Level Media