Photo: “Alyssa Thomas” by Lorie Shaull is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
A third-quarter surge and having control of the boards for most of the night guided the Connecticut Sun to a 94-81 first-round playoff win over the Chicago Sky.
Related: Bonner Records Fourth Double-Double Of The Season In Sun’s 70-65 Win Vs Liberty
Alyssa Thomas was the leading scorer for Sun in the playoff win as she had 26 points. Thomas also had a double-double on the night as she collected 13 rebounds with her 26 points.
DeWanna Bonner also had a double-double in the win as she had 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Two other Connecticut players would hit double figures in points in the game which they were Kaila Charles (13) and Brionna Jones (12).
Connecticut had the advantage in multiple categories in the game which included rebounds (40-21) and assists (22-18).
The Sun also bested Chicago at the foul line with the team shooting 93.1% (27-29) and with the Sky shooting 81.3% (13-16).
Allie Quigley was the leading scorer for Chicago in the game as she had 19 points.
Three other Sky players would hit double figures in points in the game which they were Kahleah Copper (17), Gabby Williams (16), and Courtney Vandersloot (12).
Connecticut leads by one point after one-quarter of play
The playoff intensity was in the air as soon as this game started as the lead changed hands six times and the score was tied five in the first five minutes. The final lead change during those five minutes came from Allie Quigley who had a layup shot go in to give Chicago a 13-11 lead with 5:11 left in the quarter. The trio of Quigley, Kahleah Copper, and Courtney Vandersloot would score all 13 points for the Sky in those five minutes.
The Sun’s leading scorer during those five minutes of battle was Alyssa Thomas who scored eight of the 11 points for her team.
Starting at the 4:19 minute mark, the battle of the buckets continued as the lead changed hands five times and the score was tied three times during that time. The final lead change during that time came at the 44-second mark with Thomas getting a layup to go in to give the Sun a 22-21 lead.
Rebounding was a key for Connecticut to get the lead during those four minutes as the team collected five. The duo of Thomas and DeWanna Bonner would score nine of 11 points during that time.
The Sun shot 50.0 % (7-14) in the first quarter of this game.
Chicago shot 47.1 % (8-17) in the first quarter of this game.
The score would be tied at the half
Connecticut would have the hot hand to start the second quarter as the team went on an 11-4 run to take a 33-25 lead with 6:53 left in the half. The trio of DeWanna Bonner, Kaila Charles, and Briann January would score all 11 points on the run.
Seconds later, the Sky would start on a 16-8 run which would tie the game up at the half with a score of 41. Gabby Williams was the leader of this run as she scored six of the 16 points on the run. Keys to this run were Chicago was able to force four turnovers and collect six rebounds.
The Sun’s shooting declined in the second quarter as the team shot 36.8 % (7-19).
The Sky’s shooting improved in the second quarter as the team shot 53.3 % (8-15).
Connecticut takes a double-digit lead after three-quarters of play
Just like the second quarter, the Sun would start off another quarter with the hot hand as the team went on a 13-2 run to give them a 54-43 lead with 6:54 left in third. The duo of Jasmine Thomas and Brionna Jones would score 10 of the 13 points on the run. Another key to this run was Connecticut was able to force three turnovers.
The Sun was sparking as seconds later the team started on a 14-9 run to expand their lead to 68-52 at the end of the third quarter. Rebounding was key on this run as Connecticut collected nine rebounds.
The Sun had their best shooting percentage of the game in the third quarter with 55.0 % (11-20).
Chicago had their worst shooting percentage of the game in the third quarter with 30.8 % (4-13).
Connecticut gets a 13 point first-round playoff win
The Sun continued to have their foot on the gas as the team outscored the Sky 10-6 in the first four minutes of the fourth to push their lead to 78-58 with 5:59 left in the game. The duo of Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner would score nine of the 10 points on the run.
Seconds later, Chicago would fight their way back into this game as the team went on a 19-8 run to cut the lead to nine points (86-77) with 2:04 left in the game. The duo of Gabby Williams and Kahleah Copper would score 14 of the 19 points on the run.
In the remaining minutes of the game, Connecticut would outscore the Sky 8-4 to seal a first-round playoff 94-81 win. Six of the eight points came from the foul line.
The Sun had their worst shooting percentage of the game in the fourth quarter with 35.3 % (6-17).
Chicago had their best shooting percentage of the game in the fourth quarter with 66.7 % (10-15)/
Connecticut will take on the Los Angeles Sparks in the second round of the WNBA playoffs on Thursday at 9 PM ET on ESPN2.
Stats:
FG%: CHI50.0% & CON 44.3%
3P%: CHI 40.0%&CON29.4%
FT% CHI81.3%&CON93.1%
Rebs: CHI21& CON40
Ast: CHI18&CON22
Stl:CHI8 & CON6
TO: CHI12&CON12
Blks:CHI4&CON1
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