Pondexter, Sky Cruise Past Sun
July 12, 2015 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release
ROSEMONT - The Chicago Sky (8-5) defeated the Connecticut Sun (7-4) 96-76 at Allstate Arena on Sunday night led by Cappie Pondexter's season-high 29 points and seven assists. Tonight's victory marked the Sky's second win in three games against Connecticut this season. The two Eastern Conference foes will play twice more this regular season.
"It's good to be back healthy," said Pondexter. "Right now my body feels really good and I'm just happy that I can get out there and play the game that I love."
Pondexter picked up right where she left off in Friday's game against Minnesota, scoring 11 points in the first quarter while shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the field. Elena Delle Donne added seven points and a fade away jumper at the buzzer to give the Sky a 30-23 lead. The Sky shot a blistering 76.5% (13-17) from the field and scored a season-high 30 points in the first quarter.
Allie Quigley got the Sky going in the second quarter, scoring four consecutive points and finishing the half with seven. The first half, however, was all about Pondexter, as she finished with 19 points and shot 7-for-8 from the field. The Sky led the Sun 49-41 at intermission. Alex Bentley paced the Sun with 11 points in the first half.
The Sky began the third quarter on a 10-2 run and continued to build on their halftime lead. Pondexter poured in eight more points in the quarter, surpassing her season-high of 26 points before the fourth quarter even began. Jessica Breland added six points to help give the Sky a commanding 76-59 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Sun cut the lead to 13 points with 8:30 to play in the fourth quarter, but would get no closer as the Sky cruised to a 96-76 win. Pondexter finished the game with 29 points and seven assists while Breland added a season-high 12 points. Delle Donne finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. Kelsey Bone led Connecticut with 18 points.
The Sky will look to improve to 5-1 at home on Wednesday, July 15th as they take on the Washington Mystics at 11:30 am CT.
Postgame Notes:
Chicago Sky 96, Connecticut Sun 76
NOTES
With the Sky's victory, Chicago now has the most wins in the Eastern Conference (8).The Sky's 26 total assists were a new season high, previously 22 set on 6/5/15 vs. Indiana. The Sky's 30 first quarter points were a season high, previously 29 set on 6/5/15 vs. Indiana. Cappie Pondexter had a season-high 29 points and seven assists after being held to a season-low eight points against the Sun earlier this season on 7/2/15.Clarissa Dos Santos' start tonight was the first of her WNBA career. She finished with eight points & five rebounds in 15 minutes. Tonight's starting lineup marked the fifth variation Coach Chatman used this season. Jessica Breland finished with a season-high 12 points. Jacki Gemelos recorded her first WNBA points on a three pointer with 8:11 left in the 4th quarter.All 11 Sky players entered the game tonight and scored at least two points. Kelly Faris scored a season-high 12 points for Connecticut. The Sky's 96 points, 38 made field goals and 56.7% shooting percentage are all season highs by a Sun opponent. The Sun had a season-low 19 rebounds.The 76-96 loss for the Sun is their largest loss of the 2015 season.Connecticut's bench outscored Chicago's bench 31-26.
QUOTES
Chicago Sky Head Coach and General Manager Pokey Chatman
(Opening Statement...)
"I thought Cappie [Pondexter] got off to a great start and that got everyone else comfortable and we were able to close it out, play a lot of people, and do some really nice things to get ready for our next game. "
(On Delle Donne's play....)
"When Elena [Delle Donne] runs in transition then Cappie [Pondexter] can be one-on-one in the open floor and that has some positive results."
(On the play of Clarissa Dos Santos...)
"She's [Dos Santos] a brute, you forget her height because she's strong. She didn't let Bone get comfortable under the basket. On top of that she can put some points on the board and get some rebounds. She was nice and I see her turning a corner."
Chicago Sky Guard/ Forward Elena Delle Donne
(On taking pressure off with the help of a scorer like Cappie Pondexter...)
"It's amazing to have someone like Cappie [Pondexter] out there. She's not only a great scorer but a facilitator as well so it's amazing when she can just get us going like that and we can kind of just coast."
(On not having to play a lot of minutes tonight...)
"It's a long season so games like this are crucial. It's great that other people were able to get some big minutes because we're going to need them down the stretch as well."
Chicago Sky Guard Cappie Pondexter
(On her health...)
"It's good to be back healthy. I can play at a top level and right now my body feels really good and I'm just happy that I can get out there and play the game that I love."
(Cappie on her season high and role in the offense...)
"My game is totally different than Elena's and we're helping each other. The way I play, the way she plays, it opens up the floor for both of us. We're going to have games like this, where I'm hitting every shot and she's hitting every shot."
Connecticut Sun Head Coach Anne Donovan
(Opening statement...)
"All credit to Chicago; they played lights out. I thought they showed great confidence and composure against Minnesota, and they took the next step tonight against us."
(On focusing on Elena Delle Donne vs. Cappie Pondexter...)
"I coached Cappie [Pondexter] in New York, I know what kind of player she is. We were talking about it before the game and every time-out, but Cappie had one of those nights where she had her way with everyone one that guarded her."
(On thoughts moving forward...)
"We need to regroup. This was definitely a low point for us. I don't think we showed the same tenacity we've been showing. After ten days off hopefully we can get it back."
Connecticut Sun Center Kelsey Bone
(On the Sun's execution...)
"I think the biggest let down for us tonight was on the defensive end of the court, and that's not the team that we've been through the first ten games of the season. We've got to do a better job of understanding our game plan and committing to it from jump."
(On the effect of being outrebounded...)
"It [being outrebounded] contributes a big part, but I think the biggest thing that glares on the stat sheet is that they [Chicago] shot 57% from the floor. When a team as talented as they are shoots that well, it's impossible to beat them."
Connecticut Sun Guard Alex Bentley
(On the Sun's defense tonight and playing Cappie Pondexter...)
"Cappie's [Pondexter] a great scorer. She's a veteran. She's going to score points, but I think we just took a break this game and we can't go into games thinking that way. We have to be aggressive."
(On mindset going into tonight's game...)
"My mindset going into every game is our defense is going to win the game for us and tonight we just didn't get it done."
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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 12, 2015
- Pondexter, Sky Cruise Past Sun - Chicago Sky
- New York Liberty Have Three-Game Winning Streak Snapped at Atlanta 84-76 - New York Liberty
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