Despite a fourth-quarter comeback in a second consecutive game, the Sparks fell, 82-73, to the Valkyries Friday night.

Dearica Hamby established a season high in scoring with 25 points and matched her career best in blocks with three. Kelsey Plum scored 16 points and had four steals, while Odyssey Sims drained a trio of three-pointers (3-for-6 3PT) and scored 13 points with three assists. Azurá Stevens tallied a game-high-tying 10 rebounds, and rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker posted seven points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals in 29 minutes.

The Sparks led by as many as 11 points early, but then fell far behind before mounting a late comeback that got them within five points, 73-68, with 2:32 remaining.

Los Angeles assisted on 19 of its 24 baskets (79.2%).

QUOTES OF THE NIGHT:

Head Coach Lynne Roberts

On Kelsey Plum’s competitiveness:
“I love that mentality from her. She’s just a competitor at heart. She loves playing basketball. She plays with a joy that’s fun. It’s fun to coach, fun to be around.”

Dearica Hamby
On her performance in the second half:
“I just do what I do consistently, just trying to bring energy. Definitely picked up the defensive energy. Got some good hustle plays and wanted to get us the momentum, but I want to win, so I’m willing to do whatever.”

Sarah Ashlee Barker
On her mentality going forward from this game:
“From the mental aspect of it, just [have a] next-play mentality… I have great coaches who believe in me, trust in me, and like [Head] Coach [Lynne Roberts] said, we play Chicago in 36 hours, so you gotta move on to the next and just be ready for the next moment.”