Connecticut Sun end losing streak with defensive win over Chicago Sky

UNCASVILLE, Conn. ― Returning home from a winless, five-game road trip, the Sun turned in a stellar defensive performance to stop the skid on Wednesday.

The Connecticut Sun held the Chicago Sky to under 39% from the field and held on to a 71-62 win.

Connecticut (6-26) will look to follow up with another win when the Sun host the Indiana Fever on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m.

Despite the absence of Angel Reese (back) and Courtney Vandersloot (knee), the Sky came out strong and led by six midway through the first. But the hosts did not let up and chipped away as the quarter went on.

Leïla Lacan and Aneesah Morrow combined for 13 points in the first, including a three from Lacan with 1.9 seconds remaining to put Connecticut in front by three to end the quarter.

Lacan’s hot start carried over into the second quarter, scoring the first basket to extend a two-possession lead. The Sky’s offense struggled in the opening minutes with Kamilla Cardoso on the bench.

With 6:35 left in the half, Bria Hartley and Chicago’s Rebecca Allen got into an physical altercation that quickly escalated as tempers flared on both sides. Several players from both teams rushed over in the commotion, including Chicago’s Ariel Atkins, who took exception to Hartley’s actions.

Hartley was ejected from the game, along with Allen and Atkins as well for Chicago.

“We’re (going to) have her back, regardless,” Rivers said after the game on the team’s reaction to Hartley’s ejection.

“Seeing a player go out, whether it’s an injury (or) whether it’s going out for an ejection, we still have to finish the game regardless… make sure we finish it and bring (the win) back to the locker room first so (Hartley) had a chance to celebrate with us.”

The Sun responded aggressively in the aftermath of Hartley’s ejection, extending its lead to double-digits late in the half. Connecticut held Chicago to 26.7% from the field in the second, allowing just four made shots as the Sun’s defense stifled the Sky.

Lacan led all scorers with nine points at the half, followed by Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Marina Mabrey adding eight points each.

With just eight remaining players eligible to play, the short-handed Sky continued to struggle offensively in the second half. Connecticut maintained a strong grip on the game throughout the third.

The Sun led by as many as 21, but the Sky trimmed the lead to 15 in the closing minutes and the visitors’ momentum bled into the fourth. Chicago held the Sun scoreless for over four minutes and got within four points of the hosts.

“We’ve lost a few games down the stretch like that, having the lead in the first half and then not following through for 40 minutes,” Rivers said on the team’s struggles in the fourth. “Playing 40 minutes together is (going to) be very important for us in the future… we just really locked in.”

Tina Charles ended the Sun’s draught with a clutch three with 5:30 remaining in the game. Less than a minute later, after Aneesah Morrow collected her second block of the night, Charles drained an 18-foot jump shot from the top of the arc, putting the Sun up by nine.

The two sides exchanged baskets as Cardoso battled valiantly to keep the Sky close. But Connecticut’s defense troubled the Sky down the stretch, committing five costly turnovers in the final five minutes and scoring just six points to let the Sun pull away with the win.

Leïla Lacan, Saniya Rivers send Chicago’s offense into disarray

Cardoso finished with a game-high 24 points for the Sky and grabbed nine rebounds as well.

But the Sky’s inability to create any offense outside of their second-year center cost them dearly, as the rest of the team shot just 14-of-43 from the field for 32.6%.

In addition to the poor shooting, Chicago was wasteful with the ball, committing 19 turnovers on the night compared to just five for Connecticut.

Lacan had a team-high 17 points for the Sun and dished out five assists as well. Her defensive chemistry with Rivers was especially effective in mucking up Chicago’s rhythm, with the two players combining for five of the team’s 11 steals.

“When I’m starting to pressure, sometimes people behind me get more chill,” Lacan said. “I know that (Rivers) will be here to deny the pass… (and) we can take advantage of it.

“At one point, (Rivers) had a steal at the moment where we really needed it and I feel like she does that a lot. I remember one against Seattle and I really know how she plays, I followed her since she was in college two years ago, I really like how she plays and I’m glad to have the chance to play next to her.

Aaliyah Edwards makes home debut

Newly-acquired forward Aaliyah Edwards made her home debut following her acquisition from the Washington Mystics at the trade deadline.

Playing off the bench in the Sun’s last two road games, Edwards continued off the bench and checked into the game at the start fo the second. She scored on her first shot attempt, finishing strong at the rim after driving past her defender on the right side.

The former UConn standout did not score another basket, finishing with two points on one of three attempts from the field in just under 12 minutes played.

While the Canadian international may take some time to adjust and find her role on the court, Edwards’ personality alone makes her a seamless addition to the Sun’s locker room.

“We’re like an energetic group, so (Edwards) just fit in perfectly,” Rivers said. “We turn on music, blast it before every game, just get lit together and she just jumped right in, you’d think she was with us the whole season.

“(Edwards is) a great piece to this team. She runs, she works hard, she’s obviously a big presence on offense and defense. I think she’s very special when she shares the ball, so I just think she’s a great addition to this team.”