Thomas, Sun get past Sky

UNCASVILLE » After looking like they were stuck in neutral for much of the first half, the Connecticut Sun used the break between the first and second half to get back to what second-year head coach Curt Miller calls “Sun basketball.”

If any numbers could best define what “Sun basketball” looks like, having 17 assists on 19 second-half baskets is a pretty good place to start.

The Sun hit 10 of its first 12 shots in a blistering third quarter en route to a 93-72 victory over visiting Chicago before a crowd of 5,631 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

“Just easy shots, there is no need to take forced shots, hard shots, we moved the ball and we got easy shots,” said Alyssa Thomas, who had 16 of her team-high 20 points in the second half. In the second half we really just focused on our defense. Once our defense got going, we were able get out in transition.”

Reserve guard Alex Bentley sparked a much more focused defensive effort in the second half.

When All-Star guard and recently crowned WNBA 3-point champion Allie Quigley drained a 3-pointer, Chicago pulled within a point midway through the third quarter. Bentley checked into the second with 4:59 left in the third quarter and in the next 62 seconds, the Sun had two steals and two layups to get some breathing room.

“I went out and competed, do what I could for my teammates,” Bentley said. “Everybody contributed tonight and that is how we got the win. In the first half we really weren’t hitting the wide open shots we usually hit so we knew we had to step it up on defense, they we a little too comfortable in the first half. That is what we came in and talked about and everybody tried to do in the second half.”

All-Stars Alyssa Thomas, Jasmine Thomas and Jonquel Jones were a combined 6 for 20 in the first half before going 12 for 18 in the second half as the Sun improved to 13-9 and remained in a first-place tie with Washington atop the Eastern Conference standings.

“I don’t think at times we played Sun basketball (in the first half),” Miller said. “It was pretty ugly game in stretches but proud of the intensity, the fight we had. We competed in the second half.”

Courtney Williams had 13 of her 17 points in the first half. Jasmine Thomas also had 17 points while the two most experienced perimeter players on the Connecticut roster combined for 14 assists as the Sun recorded a season high with 27 assists.