Photo Credit Tammy McManaway
By DJ Harding-
The Connecticut Sun defended their home floor against the New York Liberty Tuesday night. This was Jonquel Jones’s return to Mohegan Sun in regular season action since leaving the team this offseason.
Jones spent 6 seasons with the team after being drafted in the first round of the 2016 draft after sixth overall. Jones scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in her return to Mohegan Sun Arena.
The Sun came into tonight on a four game win streak and a record of 12-3 which is second best in the league. The Liberty are right behind the Sun with a record of 9-3 which is third best and have a three game win streak of their own going into tonight.
Quarter number one was a shootout with the score almost tied up having the Sun lead 29-28. DeWanna Bonner was the games highest scorer in the first 10 minutes with 10 points.
Bonner finished the night with 12 points only scoring two points after the first quarter.
New York gained a small lead by halftime up 47-43. Breanna Stewart led all scorers at the half with 14 points. Alyssa Thomas also was creeping up on a triple double with 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Stewart scored 24 points in total which led all scorers for the night.
Thomas reached Triple Double status for the second straight game and the third game in the last four. Thomas scored 11 points while dishing out 10 assists and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Thomas was also awarded with Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season.
DiJonai Carrington postgame said “She’s had 10 triple doubles in the past 10 days and it’s not normal what she is doing.”
Tiffany Hayes during the third quarter would hit the 4,000 point mark for career points. Point number 4,000 came from a driving layup. Hayes ended the night with 6 points.
The Liberty extended the lead from 4 to 15 part way through the third quarter. Dijonia Carrington would score 11 third quarter points in a 16-6 run by the Sun.
Carrington had 23 points which was the second highest among all players and the highest for the Connecticut Sun. Carrington shot 8 for 11 from the field along with 3 for 3 from three point range and 4 for 4 from the free throw line.
During postgame Carrington said “ At the beginning of the season I was told my role and instead of pouting I made sure to stay ready so I would be ready.”
Carrington has averaged 25 minutes per game and 19 points per game in Brionna Jones’s absence.
By the end of the third quarter the Liberty held a five point lead with a score of 70-65, with one quarter to play it was still anyone’s game.
New York pulled out the win in the fourth keeping Connecticut at bay with a 89-81 win.
The Liberty now have a four game win streak as Courtney Vandersloot with 17 points and Betnijah Laney with 16 would back up Stewart in the win.
The Sun also had Olivia Nelson-Ododa reach double figures with 11 points going 6 for 6 from the field. Ododa was also the Suns second highest scorer.
Ododa postgame said “We showed we had a fight and not the result that we wanted but we fought back. They’re a good team and basketball is a game of runs and at certain points there was a size advantage but I’m proud of this team.”
New York improves to 10-3 and shortens the lead between them in Connecticut. The Liberty also now lead the season series 2-0.
The Sun now have a record of 12-4 which is still second best in the league which trails the Las Vegas Aces.
Connecticut went 8-3 in June and will start July on the road against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday July 1, tip off is scheduled for 3:00 PM.