ARLINGTON, TX—For those looking to see former Dallas Wings center Liz Cambage in action at the College Park center since the trade, you’ll have to wait until next season. The WNBA All-Star was listed out for tonight’s game in Dallas with no specific injury but simply to rest.
Before tonight’s contest, the Wings were suffering to get back in the win column with a season-long six straight losses before dominating the New York Liberty 87-64 Thursday night. As for Las Vegas, their three-game win streak was snapped on the road against the Los Angeles Sparks.
In their final matchup of the regular season, Dallas opened the first quarter on a 6-0 run. Their momentum was short lived as Las Vegas responded with an 11-0 run forcing the Wings to take a timeout.
To make matters worse, the Wings were shooting poorly from the floor finishing the opening frame going 6-21 (29%).
The Aces are still without their star player A’ja Wilson due to a sprained ankle but her absence has allowed for other players like Dearica Hamby to step up and become a solid replacement for the time being.
Dallas trailed 21-15 to end the first quarter.
It started to look like shots were falling much better for the Wings to open the second quarter especially with Allisha Gray hitting a dagger from downtown to get the CPC on their feet.
However, the main difference maker in this game was the inability of the Wings to draw any fouls in the first half. On the other hand, the Aces were thriving going 10-14 (71%) from the free throw line at halftime. Luckily, Dallas found a way to finish the game going 6-8 (75%) from the line.
Las Vegas remained on top 42-37 at the half behind Kayla McBride leading all scorers with nine points and two rebounds. For the Wings, Imani McGee-Stafford led her team with eight points and four rebounds. McGee-Stafford would go on to be clutch in the paint for Dallas coming off the bench.
It might’ve taken two quarters, but the Wings finally found a way to the free throw line behind Kaela Davis. She would later get sent to the line again and make two clutch free throws to give Dallas their first lead of 54-52 since the opening quarter.
Las Vegas responded again with a 6-0 run at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Their control of the game didn’t last long with Dallas scoring a quick seven points to keep it competitive.
With less than three minutes left in play, the Aces held a narrow lead of 67-61 but that quickly changed with Wings rookie Arike Ogunbowale hitting back-to-back threes. Ogunbowale continues to make a case for Rookie of the Year with her 16th double-digit outing tonight.
Now 18.9 seconds left in the game, McBride was able to draw a foul from Davis giving the Aces a three-point lead. To put the nail in the coffin, Jackie Young cashed in on two made free throws giving Las Vegas a win of 75-70.
The Wings have now lost seven of their last eight games and a push to the playoffs seems unlikely at this point. However, this young team still has promise to put all the pieces together to close out the season.
LEADING SCORERS
Kayla McBride – 21 points, four rebounds, two steals, and one assist
Arike Ogunbowale – 24 points, 3 assists, one steal and one rebound
UP NEXT
Dallas prepares for a two-game road swing with their first stop in Seattle on August 8.
