Fowles scores 23 to lead Sky past Sun

Sylvia Fowles had 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Sky to a 78-75 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night in Rosemont.

Fowles scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including a tiebreaking putback with 28 seconds left.

Rookie guard Courtney Vandersloot scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers, to help the Sky (1-1) win their home opener. Michelle Snow had 12 points, Ephiphanny Prince added 11 and Cathrine Kraayeveld grabbed 11 rebounds.

Renee Montgomery scored 22 points and Asjha Jones added 20 for the Sun (1-1).

Chicago never trailed and led by as many as 13 points. Connecticut railed to force two ties, the last coming on Jones’ jumper with 44 seconds left.

The Sky opened a 23-16 lead after one quarter as Vandersloot tied a club record with three 3s in one period. The lead reached 31-18 with 7:07 left in the half following Vandersloot’s fourth 3.

Connecticut scored 10 straight points over the next 3:08, and Kalana Greene’s 3 with 31 seconds left trimmed the lead to 35-34.

Tina Charles’ 3 tied the score at 37-all early in the third quarter, but Chicago replied with an 11-1 run. The Sky led by six midway through the fourth quarter before the Sun forced a late tie.

Chicago shot 33 for 66 (50 percent) from the field and outrebounded Connecticut 38-30. The Sun were 28 of 66 (42.4 percent).

Snow’s free throw at 7:44 of second quarter gave her 2,800 career points. She became the seventh WNBA player with 2,800 points, 2,000 rebounds and 300 blocks.