Veronica Burton poured in 25 points and dished out 13 assists as the Golden State Valkyries ended a three-game losing streak with an 90-81 victory over the Dallas Wings on Sunday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.
The expansion Valkyries (19-18) came in looking to remain on the right side of the playoff, sitting in the eighth and final spot, and did just that. Ilana Rupert was 5-of-9 from 3-point range and scored 17. Kaila Charles chipped in 16 and Kate Martin tallied 12.
Last-place Dallas (9-29) dropped its fifth in a row despite 16 points from Maddy Siegrist.
Myisha Hines-Allen and Haley Jones added 15 points apiece while Amy Okonkwo scored 12 in only her second WNBA game after being signed to a seven-day hardship contract.
Grace Berger (11) also scored in double figures while rookie star Paige Bueckers was held to nine points on 3-of-12 shooting as her streak of double-digit games ended at 30. She had nine assists as well.
After trailing by as many as 14, Dallas led 38-36 at the half and extended its lead to 40-36 when Bueckers made her first basket of the day, scoring on a layup with 9:48 left in the third.
Down 47-45, the Valkyries used a 12-2 run to take control, fueled in part by 3-pointers from Charles and Rupert as they went ahead 57-49 with 3:15 to play in the period.
Golden State led 61-55 going to the fourth.
Burton’s layup with 7:53 to play made it 69-55, and the Wings weren’t able to put together another rally as they lost for the 10th time in their last 11.
Bolstered by five 3-pointers in the opening quarter, including Martin’s shot in the corner with 30 seconds left, the Valkyries led 23-12 after one.
Dallas found new life in the second quarter on the strength of a 13-2 run. Fueled by three shots from distance in the first three minutes, two of which came from Okonkwo, the Wings pulled within 25-23 with 7:54 left in the half.
Berger’s first 3-pointer of the season cut the Dallas deficit to 29-28 with 6:17 left. Berger then made two free throws at the five-minute mark that gave the Wings their first lead at 30-29.
Golden State made a season-high 16 3-pointers on 38 attempts (42.1 percent), which played a huge role in getting a much-needed victory.
–Field Level Media
