Sun 83, Sky 72
When Connecticut last played at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., on July 13, it trailed by 13 points in the fourth quarter before piecing together a wild rally that culminated in an overtime win.
Those kind of dramatics weren't necessary Tuesday night as Tina Charles dominated inside and Chicago shot miserably in the Sun's 83-72 win, which kept the Sun's Eastern Conference lead over Indiana at 2 1/2 games.
Charles compiled 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for Connecticut (18-6), which was playing its first road game in 12 days, while Kara Lawson added 18 points and six assists, going 4-of-6 from the 3-point line. Renee Montgomery came off the bench to tally 15 points.
The game turned in the middle two quarters, when the Sun limited the Sky to 24 points, allowing Connecticut to expand a one-point first-quarter lead to 11 at halftime and 14 after three periods.
Chicago lost its 10th game in 11 outings in large part because it couldn't make a shot. It was an awful 26-of-70 from the field and 4-of-24 from the 3-point line, more than canceling out spirited work on the offensive glass, where it grabbed 14 missed shots.
Courtney Vandersloot came off the bench to lead the Sky (9-15), which fell into a tie with New York for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East, with 17 points and six assists. Swin Cash scored 15 points, while Carolyn Swords contributed 10 points and seven rebounds. Epiphanny Prince and Sonja Petrovic also hit for 10 points.
Connecticut continues its four-game road trip Thursday night in San Antonio against the Silver Stars.
