WNBA Chicago Sky

Bench Production Leads Sky Past Storm

Published on September 6, 2015 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release


ROSEMONT- Coming off a statement victory in New York, the Chicago Sky (20-12) returned to action on Sunday night to host the Seattle Storm inside Allstate Arena. Chicago's bench contributed 57 points led by 17 from Allie Quigley and 14 points, six assists and six steals from Jamierra Faulkner as the Sky cruised to a 93-65 victory.

"From beginning to end, everyone that came in the game had a pretty good understanding of what we were trying to do," said Sky Head Coach and General Manager Pokey Chatman. "It's nice to see us take that next step and have players 9, 10, 11 and 12 contribute at a high level as we move to the last few games before the playoff push."

The Sky took a commanding lead, starting the game on a 16-0 run after forcing five Seattle turnovers in the first five minutes of play. Courtney Vandersloot paced the Sky with six points and three assists during the scoring run while Elena Delle Donne and Tamera Young added four points each. The Sky shot a blistering 57.1% from the field in the first quarter to build a 26-15 lead.

The strong shooting continued into the second quarter as Delle Donne scored her 1500th career WNBA point and the Sky took a 51-35 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, Chicago's bench bench took over. Led by Quigley and Faulkner, the bench accounted for 33 of the team's 42 points in the second half to secure its 20th victory of the season.

"Depth is huge and to know you've got players on the bench who can come in and get you doing even better is really relaxing for us," said Delle Donne. "We like to get a good start, but we do know that we have them there to come in and wreak havoc on people."

Delle Donne finished with 13 points and seven rebounds in just 23 minutes while Vandersloot added 10 points and six assists.

With two games remaining in the regular season, the Sky returns to action at Allstate Arena on Friday, September 11 to host the Tulsa Shock for the last home game of the regular season and Fan Appreciation Night presented by Juicy Fruit. Tip-off is set for 7:30pm CT on The U Too.

Postgame Notes:

Chicago Sky 93, Seattle Storm 65

NOTES

In less than five minutes from the start of the game, the Sky built a 16-0 run, which lasted until 4:37 in the first quarter when the Storm's Alysha Clark scored a layup. Courtney Vandersloot logged a quick six points and three assists during the run. Chicago's bench outscored Seattle's starters 57-42. The Sky's bench was led by Allie Quigley's team-high 17 points. Jamierra Faulkner added 14 points, six steals and six assists off the bench, as well. Elena Delle Donne scored her 1,500th career point in the second quarter. She finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. With her fifth assist, Courtney Vandersloot broke her own team record for assists in a season. Her previous record was set in 2013 when she totaled 184 assists. Vandersloot currently has 186 assists this season. The largest lead of the night was 28 by Chicago. The Sky led the entire game without any lead changes. The Sky shot 52.8% (38-72) from the field tonight. Chicago is 8-1 when shooting above 50% in a game. Jewell Loyd led Seattle in scoring with 21 points, which also tied her season high, in her return to the Chicago area. Loyd is averaging 10.7 points per game in her rookie season. Seattle's loss combined with a victory earlier in the day by Los Angeles eliminates the Storm from playoff contention.The Storm's Jenny O'Hea contributed 13 points off the bench. She also tied her season-highs in field goals made (5) and three-pointers made (3). The Storm totaled 21 turnovers, which is 5.9 above the team's average of 15.1 turnovers per game. As a result, the Sky scored 29 points off of Seattle's mishaps.Prior to tip-off Elena Delle Donne was presented with the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award at center court.

QUOTES

Chicago Sky Head Coach and General Manager Pokey Chatman

(Opening statement...)

"In the fourth quarter alone, we had 12 deflections. That obviously gets us out in transition; we were able to get stops. From beginning to end, everyone that came in the game had a pretty good understanding of what we were trying to do. It's nice to see us take that next step and have players 9, 10, 11 and 12 contribute at a high level as we move to the last few games before the playoff push. That's next level basketball; they don't just maintain, they took us to another level. They really came through in the last few games and I expect it to continue."

(On the play of Jamierra Faulkner...)

"When Little J [Jamierra Faulkner] got here, Slooty [Courtney Vandersloot] played a certain way, Little J played a certain way and now they both take a little bit of each other's games. Her [Jamierra Faulkner] pace is different, she's slowing it down to third gear; Sloot's [Courtney Vandersloot] going to overdrive and that's a nice mix. It opens so many things up for us. And I thoroughly appreciate it because you can still maintain offensive execution, but her [Jamierra Faulkner] energy on the basketball is really nice for us."

(On whether Elena Delle Donne should be the 2015 WNBA MVP...)

"Yes! The numbers, the efficiency, the team, scoring, rebounding, efficiency...I shouldn't have to campaign. I would say that if she were not on my team. Maya is great; Elena happens to lead the league in scoring and is second in rebounding. It's really about Elena and not any other player. There's no stat for the points that Elena gets for others, because she's a utility player."

Chicago Sky Guard Jamierra Faulkner

(On the team's defensive effort in tonight's game...)

"Every person guarding the ball always tries to get a deflection and get our hands on the ball so someone else can get the steal. Then we run in transition. "

(On her quickness...)

"I was always like a little fly in the game, just getting on people's nerves so I'm going to keep doing that."

Chicago Sky Forward Elena Delle Donne

(On the team's depth in its bench players...)

"Depth is huge and to know you've got players on the bench who can come in and get you doing even better is really relaxing for us. We like to get a good start, but we do know that we have them there to come in and wreak havoc on people."

(On whether she should win MVP...)

"I always let my game speak for itself. If the numbers and accolades come, then great. But, I'm worried about this team and that's all I care about."

(On earning the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award two consecutive years...)

"That really means so much to me. Growing up my parents always raised me to give back and I always knew if I ever got a spotlight I was going to do something far bigger than myself and give back. So an award like that really means the most to me."

WNBA Legend Dawn Staley

(On Elena Delle Donne earning the community leadership award twice...)

"I think it just goes to show Elena's commitment to the community and commitment to what she's passionate about. I know there are other WNBA players that are doing things in their community, but it goes to show how far and how much she's doing in the time that she really probably doesn't have. Working on her basketball game and spending time with her family but also giving time and giving back to things that she's very passionate about, especially Lyme Disease."

(On Delle Donne's inspiration for donating to the Lyme Aid 4 Kids fund...)

"I think your passion comes from who you spend time with. Obviously, with her sister being ill, I think she wants to spread the information as much as possible and get people the help that they deserve. I'm glad that she gets $10,000 to go to Lyme Disease - something that she's been stricken by and she's been plagued with throughout her career. But, now she's going to give back to those who may or may not know that they have it so they can get the treatment that they need to cope with it."

Seattle Storm Head Coach Jenny Boucek

(On how the team can improve moving forward...)

"We will have to evaluate more after the season. I think we've made great strides in terms of setting a foundation for our offense and defensive systems and our culture, and we have to keep moving on our foundation."

(On how Seattle was affected by Sue Bird's absence...)

"She [Sue Bird] is arguably one of the best point guards to have had ever played the game. So it's a huge hole to fill, but we are also missing two of our stretch 4's and that's a big part of what we do offensively. So everyone's a little out of position and we have a short bench right now."

(On the team's focus...)

"Just control the things that we can control and that isn't always performance or results. So we are focused on day-to-day process, leaving nothing out there, no regrets, and getting better all the way through the end of the season. And that will build for the future, which is what we're after."

Seattle Storm Guard Jewell Loyd

(On her aggressive performance...)

(On what the team can do to improve in the upcoming games...)

"It most definitely starts in practice. Our main goal is to get better everyday. We have a game coming up so continuing to get better."

(On her nerves coming into tonight's game near her hometown...)

"My family's here, my friends are here and people from high school. I tried to let it not get the best of me but I had great teammates that helped settle me down.

Seattle Storm Guard Sue Bird

(On transitioning from this season to next season...)

(On the team's effort and focus this season...)

"It hasn't been an issue much of at all this season, tonight was just a tough game. Chicago is a really good team and we just got off to a really bad start and couldn't recover. They had a ton of momentum and I don't think tonight's game is telling of how our season has been. I think we've done a good job coming together within each week and each month."

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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from September 6, 2015


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