Mohegan — Kelsey Bone was a strength that the Connecticut Sun had over the Chicago Sky. She’s established herself as a reliable center, whereas the Sky are having to get by without Olympian Sylvia Fowles.

So much for that advantage — Bone has been suspended one game without play and will miss tonight’s game against Chicago after leveling Indiana Fever center Natalie Achonwa with an elbow to the head during Tuesday night’s 92-84 loss, ending Connecticut’s seven-game winning streak.

The WNBA announced Bone’s suspension late Wednesday afternoon. Sun head coach Anne Donovan was unavailable for comment.

Bone was called for a Flagrant Foul 2 with 1 minute, 5 seconds left in Tuesday’s game just as teammate Alex Bentley made a 3-pointer to cut Indiana’s lead to 85-82.

Bone was ejected. Achonwa made two free throws, and the Sun never got any closer.

“I saw the shot go up,” Bone said after the game. “I was on the weak-side corner and to be honest, I went in for a rebound. I didn't extend my elbow. I know that I hit her above the shoulder, but it was not intentional. If the ball came out (of the basket), I was trying to get the rebound.

“I understand the rule. I get it. It was above the shoulder, but it was not intentional. I know my strength. And I know if that had been intentional, it would have been a lot different. I wasn't trying to intentionally hit her."

Bone’s one-game suspension is doubly hard for Connecticut (7-2) as rebounding and interior depth are among its weaknesses. Reserves Kayla Pedersen and rookie Elizabeth Williams should see far more minutes tonight to compensate for Bone’s absence.

Defense had been one of Connecticut’s strengths up until the Indiana game. The Fever shot 55.4 percent from the field. They also made a ludicrous 8 of 13 3-pointers.

The Sun trailed by as many as 23 points (74-51) with over a minute left in the third quarter. Indiana shot 59.1 percent through three periods.

“Intensity” was the buzzword in the Sun locker room after the game.

“I think we lacked our intensity on defense until the second half,” Connecticut point guard Jasmine Thomas said. “That’s when you got to see who we really are on defense. We had each other’s back more in the second half than the first.”

Sun post Camille Little said, “Our intensity, I think was the biggest thing. We weren’t aggressive enough. We didn’t make them uncomfortable as we wanted to do, and when you let teams do that, they’re going to shoot 55 percent.”

The Sun beat the defending Eastern Conference champion Sky 67-65 on June 11. Chicago (5-5) was without guard Allie Quigley as she was playing for the Hungarian National Team at the EuroBasket Tournament. She was last season’s WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award winner. Fowles has sat out the season as she’s demanded a trade. Sources say she wants to play for the Minnesota Lynx.

Connecticut also has to contend with Elena Delle Donne. The Sky forward has been scoring at a torrid pace, averaging a league-high 28.7 points. To put that in perspective, Atlanta’s Angel McCoughtry is second with 20.5 ppg.

Delle Donne also averages a league-best 9.3 free throw attempts.

• The Sun celebrate Military Appreciation Night tonight and will have a swearing-in ceremony at halftime with approximately 80 men and women who will take the oath of enlistment. The Mohegan Veterans Association Honor Guard will present the colors before the game, and the first 4,000 fans in attendance will receive a special flag bandana.

n.griffen@theday.com

Twitter: @MetalNED