Sky clinches playoff spot with 96-86 victory over Sun

Sep 11, 2017, 03:33 pm

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Cappie Pondexter scored a season-high 24 points, Allie Quigley had 18 points and the Chicago Sky clinched a playoff spot with a 96-86 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday.

Pondexter and Quigley each hit a 3-pointer during a 10-2 third-quarter run and the Sky outscored Connecticut 28-14 in the quarter for a 71-61 lead.

Jasmine Thomas made two 3-pointers in the final 1:07 to pull Connecticut to 90-85 with 26 seconds left but Pondexter answered with two free throws for a three-possession lead.

Courtney Vandersloot added 16 points for Chicago (16-15), which played without WNBA scoring leader Elena Delle Donne for a second straight game because of a thumb injury. Pondexter moved into fifth place in WNBA history with 6,277 points, passing Lisa Leslie.

Thomas finished with a season-best 21 points and Chiney Ogwumike had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Connecticut (11-20), which is 0-7 at home against the Eastern Conference.