NBA

Liberty squander fourth-quarter lead in loss to Sky

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Tina Charles scored 15 points, Cappie Pondexter had 14, and Avery Warley-Talbert and Plenette Pierson had 10 apiece for the Liberty (11-15), who suffered an 87-74 defeat in Chicago on Thursday night.

Leading 65-61 entering the fourth quarter, Chicago (11-16) scored seven consecutive points to take a double-digit lead with 7:41 left.

The Liberty got no closer than nine again.

Elena Delle Donne, playing her first game since June 25 because of Lyme disease, tied the score at 43 with her first field goal of the game, with 7:03 to go in the third quarter. She added a 3-pointer 43 seconds later as Chicago took a four-point lead heading to the final period.

The Liberty have lost two out of their past three games.