Emma Meesseman scored 20 of her season-high 26 points in the first half to fuel the visiting Chicago Sky to an 83-79 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Friday in Uncasville, Conn.
Meessseman made 9 of her 10 shots in the first half and finished 11-for-14 from the floor. She fell just shy of her career high of 30 points, set while playing for the Washington Mystics in their 77-70 win over the Atlanta Dream on July 30, 2017.
Candace Parker finished with 18 points and Rebekah Gardner added 14 off the bench for the Sky (8-4), who shot 50.8 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from 3-point range. Chicago, which has won four of its last five games, defeated the Sun in their first meeting since eliminating Connecticut in the semifinals last season.
Connecticut’s Brionna Jones scored 20 points off the bench and DeWanna Bonner added 18. Alyssa Thomas collected 11 points and eight assists and reigning WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones had a season-high 14 rebounds to go along with seven points for the Sun (10-4), who saw their season high-tying four-game winning streak come to a halt.
Bonner sank a 3-pointer and a turnaround jumper to give Connecticut a 79-78 lead with 39.4 seconds to play.
Parker countered by making a pair of free throws to regain the advantage for Chicago.
Courtney Williams failed to convert a short jumper in the lane on the next possession for the Sun. Parker made both free throws to push the Sky’s lead to 82-79 with 12.9 seconds to play.
Natisha Hiedeman’s pass was stolen by Gardner, who then made one of two free throws to seal the win.
Meesseman made her first six shots to give the Sky a 17-10 lead before the Sun answered by scoring the final six points of the first quarter.
A pair of baskets by Gardner pushed the Sky’s lead to five points before the Sun countered with a 10-0 run, capped by Thomas’ three-point play with 7:36 left in the second quarter. Meesseman continued her hot hand by sinking a turnaround jumper and subsequent foul shot to push Chicago to a 45-44 lead at halftime.
–Field Level Media