Connecticut 80, Chicago 75
UNCASVILLE, Conn., Sept. 5 (AP) -- Tamika Whitmore scored 17 points and Barbara Turner had eight of her 16 in the fourth quarter to help the Connecticut Sun beat the Chicago Sky 80-75 Friday night.
The Sun (20-10) won their seventh straight game and moved a step closer to clinching the Eastern Conference regular season title and home-court advantage throughout the conference playoffs. They lead second-place Detroit by two games heading to the final week of the regular season.
"I'm happy with the win, but it wasn't the best we've played since we got back from the break,'' Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said. "A couple of people struggled offensively. There wasn't a real rhythm to the game.''
Chicago (11-19) was three games behind Indiana for the final playoff spot in the East with four games remaining.
Jia Perkins led Chicago with 18 points, while Sylvia Fowles had 16 points, Candice Dupree had 13 and Chasity Melvin had 12.
"It's not like this was our first back to back (games) of the season,'' Dupree said. "It's something everyone in the league has to do. You can't use it as an excuse. It's something you have to play through.''
Lindsay Whalen had six assists for the Sun, surpassing 800 for her career.
