Connecticut Sun edge past Chicago Sky 80-78 in overtime – WNBA Recap
On Friday night, after a thrilling contest, Connecticut Sun required the heroics of Allison Hightower who made the go ahead layup 8.9 seconds remaining in overtime to help her team edge past Chicago Sky with a 80-78 victory.
The win for Connecticut ensured that they headed into the Olympic break with a five game winning streak while Chicago lost on their fourth successive outing.
Tina Charles managed her way to game high total of 25 points to go along with 13 rebounds. Mistie Mims mustered up a career high 19 points while Renee Montgomery chipped in 15 points of her own.
Chicago had four players making sizable contributions in the game but their efforts were wasted as Sonja Petrovic turned the ball with just 5.2 second remaining in the extra period.
Courtney Vandersloot was able to record a career high 22 points in the game while Sylvia Fowles provided equal support with a double-double performance of 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Chicago came out blazing out in the game with a 9-0 run and went on to take a double digit lead at one stage of the first quarter. After making a slow start to the game, Connecticut grinded their way back into the game and closed
the quarter with a 6-0 run.
Sky opened the second quarter in much the same way they started the game. They were able to outscore Connecticut 12-5 in the first five minutes of the period and by the close of the first half were leading by 35-26.
The start of third quarter saw things turn in favour of Connecticut, who came out with a 10-2 run to trail by only one point. However Chicago were not letting their good start just fade away like that and responded back with a
14-2 run.
So dominating was Chicago’s performance in the first three quarters that they took a 53-40 lead into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter saw Connecticut start off with a 7-2 run which helped them make a strong push to crawl their way back into the game. Sun, continued to pile on the pressure for the remaining time and with 24.5 seconds left on
the clock, they were successful in tying up the game up at 66.
In the extra period there were a total of 8 lead changes with both sides looking to get their noses in front. With 8.9 seconds remaining Hightower made a clean layup on Montgomery’s assist.
Even though Chicago still had some time left on the clock however they were unable to take care of the ball hence allowing Connecticut to hold out the last few seconds of the game.
With 3.2 seconds remaining till the final buzzer, Vandersloot was left with no choice but to take her second personal of the game as she fouled Kara Lawson, who was able to knock down 1 of 2 free throws as Connecticut managed a
2 point victory.
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