Rookie Gabriela Jaquez scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Chicago Sky past the Minnesota Lynx 86-79, closing a four-game road trip at 3-1.
Rookie Gabriela Jaquez scored a career-high 20 points and Kamilla Cardoso had 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks as the Chicago Sky beat the Minnesota Lynx 86-79 on Sunday at Target Center.
Jaquez shot 6-of-11 from the field and made all 7 of her free throws. She also had a career-high 8 rebounds. Rachel Banham scored 13 points, Natasha Cloud added 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Jacy Sheldon had 10 points and 4 steals for the Sky (3-1).
Cloud made her first start of the season and recorded the 1,000th field goal of her career.
Kayla McBride led the Lynx (2-2) with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals. Natasha Howard had 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Courtney Williams added 17 points. Olivia Miles, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft, scored 13 points with 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Maya Caldwell scored 5 points and Emese Hof added 3 off the bench for Minnesota.
Minnesota led 22-16 after the first quarter. The first half stayed tight, with 6 lead changes and 7 ties. Chicago outscored the Lynx 24-16 in the second quarter, and Sydney Taylor made a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to put the Sky ahead 40-38. Chicago led the rest of the way. Jaquez made 2 free throws to cap a 12-4 run to open the third quarter and give the Sky a 10-point lead.
Minnesota chipped back into it late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, but Chicago answered with an 8-0 run in the fourth. Williams made a 3-pointer and Howard followed with a layup to cut the Sky's lead to 79-75 with 1:44 to play. Jaquez answered 35 seconds later with a 3-pointer for an 83-76 lead.
Chicago's bench outscored Minnesota's 28-10. Aicha Coulibaly scored 8 points and Elizabeth Williams grabbed 8 rebounds for the Sky.
Sky forward Rickea Jackson left in the second quarter with a non-contact injury and did not return.
The Sky played without Skylar Diggins (eye), DiJonai Carrington (foot), Azura Stevens (knee), and Courtney Vandersloot (knee).
The Lynx were without Napheesa Collier (left ankle) and Dorka Juhász (foot).
The win closed a four-game road trip at 3-1 for Chicago, which opens a four-game homestand on Wednesday against the Dallas Wings. The Lynx host the Toronto Tempo on Thursday.
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