Mohegan — The Connecticut Sun were not happy with themselves after taking a 22-point beating from the Chicago Sky the last time they met.

Connecticut wasn’t happy with what the Sky allegedly said afterwards, either.

The Sun used all that to motivate them to one of their best wins of the season on Tuesday night. They ran wild offensively through three quarters and then held off a wild Chicago fourth-quarter comeback for a 100-94 win before 6,358 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

It was the fifth straight win for first-place Connecticut (14-6), currently the longest winning in the WNBA.

Chicago (11-9) downed the Sun, 95-73, on June 23.

“They called us out publicly after last game; from coach to player, calling us soft,” Connecticut head coach Curt Miller said. “And I think you saw our team respond to that. There was not a lot of talking about it. It didn't need to be addressed, but that was there, and I think you saw a very spirited group in that first half.”

It was the most points the Sun scored this season. They last scored 100-or-more in a 101-92 win at the Dallas Wings on Aug. 8, 2018.

Connecticut also set season highs for the most halftime points (57), the most points through three quarters (82), and assists (29).

“We played harder (this time) and we came in with a chip on our shoulder after all the stuff they were talking after the last game,” Sun Jonquel Jones said. “We were excited to play them. I think it showed.”

The Sun remain in a first-place tie with the Las Vegas Aces in the overall WNBA standings. The Aces squished the Dallas Wings late Tuesday, 86-54. The Washington Mystics (13-6) are a half-game behind in first.

Jones had 27 points and 11 rebounds, Jasmine Thomas had 18 points and eight assists, and Alyssa Thomas had 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Connecticut.

Courtney Williams added 12 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Sun.

Courtney Vandersloot had 22 points and 11 assists for Chicago (11-9), which had won four in a row. Allie Quigley added 24 points.

Connecticut’s defense had carried it through last Saturday’s All-Star break as its had shooting issues that are out-of-character.

Offense was not a problem Tuesday night for the Sun. They shot 55.2 percent through three quarters and led, 82-63.

Connecticut went cold in the fourth quarter with Chicago getting as close as 94-90 with 1 minute, 18 seconds left.

The Sun finished shooting 50-percent (37-of-74), tying their best mark of the season. They previously did it during a June 14 win at the Minnesota Lynx (85-81).

The Sky shot 45.2 percent (33-73).

“Whenever you lose to a team, there’s always a chip on your shoulder the next time,” Connecticut’s Jasmine Thomas said. “We were not happy with how we played in Chicago, but we knew we were better than what we showed. And tonight, we were better in a lot of areas.”

The Sun were outscored, 29-8, by the Sky in the second quarter of their June 23 game.

Connecticut took control of Tuesday’s game in the second quarter by closing it with a 19-9 run.

The Sun led 38-34 with 6:41 seconds remaining in that quarter when it began to build a double-digit lead. Alyssa Thomas started it by grabbing a missed 3-pointer by Jones and moments later scoring on a layup.

Two free throws by Bria Holmes and another by Jasmine Thomas gave the Connecticut its first double-digit lead, 47-37, with 3:46 left in the period.

Jasmine Thomas’ 3-pointer and Holmes transition layup gave Connecticut its largest lead up to that point, 52-38, with 2:57 remaining in the quarter.

Holmes scored the final points of the half on an 18-foot pull-up jumper as the Sun led 57-43 at halftime. She finished with 11 points off the bench.

Jones’ layup and 3-pointer gave Connecticut its largest lead, 82-61, with 44.2 seconds left in the third quarter.

Chicago’s starters rallied against the Sun reserves and erased their deficit to 94-81 with 3:36 remaining in the game, forcing Miller to reinsert the starters.

Vandersloot’s 3-pointer cut Connecticut’s lead to 94-90 with 1:19 left.

Jones finally stopped Chicago’s run by drawing a foul on an offensive rebound with 57.9 seconds left. She made both free throws.

Jones was fouled again after a rebound on the other end of the floor. She made both to push the Sun’s lead to 98-90 with 48.4 remaining.

“That was a big win against (Chicago’s) really, really talented offensive team that was hot coming into the game,” Miller said. “We executed well at both ends, I thought we got out and ran and got the tempo where we needed it and showed a toughness.

“Obviously, a 31-point fourth quarter is not what we wanted to have happen, but you know (it was) another good win for us to keep us in first place."

n.griffen@theday.com