Renee Montgomery scores 20 points to lead Sun over Sky 78-71

Montgomery leads Sun over Sky 78-71

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Renee Montgomery scored 20 points and the Connecticut Sun held off the Chicago Sky 78-71 Friday night.

The win was the second straight for the Sun (17-16) who will miss the playoffs for the second straight year.

“I don’t care if the game isn’t going to get us to the playoffs, the game isn’t going to do anything, but it’s still about to pride,” Montgomery said. “We are out there, people are coming to see you play and you need to perform.”

Epiphanny Prince scored 19 points for the Sky (14-19), who were eliminated last week.

Connecticut’s 66-55 lead dwindled to one point midway through the fourth quarter, but consecutive buckets from Tan White, Asjha Jones and Tina Charles provided breathing room.

Jones finished with 16 points for the Sun, who missed the WNBA playoffs for the second straight year, established control in the third quarter with an 18-2 run that erased Chicago’s seven-point halftime lead.

“We gave up an 8-0 run to start the quarter,” Chicago coach Steven Key said. “It’s something that has been a negative thing for all us all season. We work hard to get a lead and then we give something back as a gift. We can’t do that.”