Sun tops Sky, 74-67
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Asjha Jones had 23 points and 10 rebounds in helping the Connecticut Sun snap a five-game losing streak with a 74-67 win over the Chicago Sky on Sunday.
Lindsay Whalen added 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Connecticut, which held the Sky scoreless for 2 minutes, 22 seconds in the fourth period.
The Sun had a 64-63 lead with 3:40 left when rookie guard Amber Holt made a 3-pointer, her first basket of the game. That began a 9-0 run that gave Connecticut a 72-63 lead with 1:18 left.
Holt scored all seven of her points in the last 2:18.
Connecticut (14-10) moved a game ahead of New York for second place in the Eastern Conference.
Armintie Price led the Sky (7-15) with 15 points off the bench. Jia Perkins had 14 points and five assists, Candice Dupree had 13 points and nine rebounds, and Chasity Melvin had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
"All four quarters we held them under 20 points, we outrebounded them (38-32) and we kept our turnovers down (11)," Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said. "It's a good start to getting back to some normalcy."
The Sun used a 9-2 run late in the third period to break a 47-47 tie and take a seven-point lead. They led by five entering the fourth.
Jones scored 11 of her points in the third period.
"Nobody in the league can stop (Jones) and everybody knows that," Chicago coach Steven Key said. "She can only stop herself."
Connecticut guard Jamie Carey's second 3-pointer of the fourth quarter gave Connecticut a 62-56 lead with 7:36 left, but the Sky closed to 64-63 with 3:40 left on Price's layup.
"It just plain feels good to win," Thibault said. "There are no 'gimme' games anymore in this league. None. When (center Sylvia) Fowles comes back (from a knee injury), Chicago is going to be a lot better."
Connecticut led by as many as eight in the first half at 22-14 before the Sky rallied to tie at 33-33 late in the first half. Chicago rookie Quianna Chaney led the comeback with two 3s. She finished with 10 points.
Whalen assisted on Jones' basket with 1.4 seconds left in the first half to give Connecticut a 35-33 halftime lead.
"When you give up 16 offensive rebounds to the second-place team in the Eastern Conference, chances are you aren't going to win the game," Key said.