By Knowledge Bethea –
Game 4 of the WNBA Semifnals had the Connecticut Sun down 2-1 in the series, and the Minnesota Lynx were trying to close out the game to head to the finals. The Sun were looking to extend the series to Game 5.
DeWanna Bonner was already feeling “lucky” tonight as her daughter was in attendance to watch her mother take on the Lynx.
As the first half kicked off, Minnesota came out launching nine three pointers looking unstoppable from behind the arc, coming strong against the Sun, outscoring them 22-15 in the first quarter. The Lynx were looking to head to the Finals with the way they shot the ball 58.1 percent (18/31) from three.
The Sun weren’t going out that easily, start of the second quarter, Marina Mabre came out with back-to-back three-pointers for the Sun giving them the momentum they needed, closing the gap to 22-21.
The Sun were pushing the ball getting the Lynx whole team into foul trouble already in the first half, taking away their starters and putting their bench in. The Sun defense was looking outstanding tonight Bonner, getting back-to-back steals for easy fast break points for Dijonai Carrington, getting multiple and-one baskets.
Alyssa Thomas was impressive in the paint, making the Lynx defense look lazy getting any basket that she wanted. With 20 seconds left in the half, Carrington got a steal off of Lynx guard Natisha Hiedman and layed up the ball. The Sun fans were screaming at the top of their lungs seeing their team defense doing amazing, but there were with seconds left which gave Hiedman time to run up half court with Carrington guarding her and sinking a half court shot at the buzzer to end the first half.
“I believe that we will win!” is what then crowdn cheered when the third quarter started. The Sun held those words with them, coming out the second half going on a 14-7 run tying the score at 57-57.The Sun outscored the Lynx, 25-13, in the third quarter to take a five-point lead into the fourth, 68-63.
Connecticut began the fourth on a 6-2 spurt to extend their lead to nine, 74-65, with 7:20 to play in the game. They by as many 15 down the stretch and were able to hang on late to take the 10-point victory, 92-82.
Ty Harris led the Sun with a postseason career-high 20 points and three rebounds. She went a team-best 4 for 5 from beyond the three-point arc and logged a postseason high 30 minutes in the win.
Alyssa Thomas finished two rebounds shy of a triple-double, notching 18 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists and one steal in the game. With 11 assists on the day, she moved into fourth all-time in assists in WNBA postseason history, passing Chelsea Gray. She now has 307 assists in her playoff career.
Bonner tallied 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block in the win, while Carrington added a postseason career-high 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block.
Marina Mabrey came off the bench in tonight’s game, adding 10 points, three rebounds and one block in 34 minutes of action. That momentum gave the Sun all that they needed to close out the game, extending the series to a Game 5.