Charles, Liberty End Sun Win Streak

Tina Charles led New York with 24 points and
seven boards.

By Bob Phillips

UNCASVILLE–There have been many nights to remember for Connecticut Sun fans in this resurgent season. Last night was not one of them. Indeed, one might go so far as to say the Liberty had the Sun in a New York State of Mind.

Former UConn legend and Sun star Tina Charles led the way with a 24-point, seven-rebound performance as the New York Liberty topped the Connecticut Sun, 82-70, before 7,016 fans at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday night. Sugar Rogers added 13 points, Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe had 12 and another former Husky standout, Bria Hartley, put 11 on the board for the Liberty, which also defeated the Sun July 19 at Madison Square Garden—Connecticut’s last loss—improved to 16-12, and moved within two games of the Eastern Conference-leading Sun.

One might suggest that Charles, her teammates, and New York head coach Bill Laimbeer have something on Connecticut, and that the Sun may not be looking forward to a postseason matchup with the Liberty.

Jasmine Thomas led the way for the Sun with 15 points. Shekinna Stricklen added 12, Jonquel Jones had 11, and Alyssa Thomas scored 10 for the Sun. For Jones, it was the first time she did not record double-digits in rebounds after seven straight Double-Ds. She had nine for the game—largely because she was picked up her fourth foul with 9:18 remaining in the game and saw limited action after that.

Jonquel "Double-D" Jones just missed a patented double-double last
night. The talented front-court star had nine boards against the Liberty.

Connecticut led 22-17 at the first turn, but New York, fueled by Charles’s 18 second-quarter points, went into the locker room leading by four, 45- 41, at intermission. The Liberty led by four after the third pole, as well, but took control of the game in the fourth period, with both Jones and Thomas on the bench with foul woes.

The loss ended Connecticut’s six-game winning streak. It also snapped the Sun’s eight-game run at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

The Sun experienced an abysmal night shooting, just hitting 24-for-70from the field (34.3 percent) and missing 10 from the charity stripe, where they were 18-for-28 on “gimmes.”

“We were 25 percent outside the paint, could not get our three-point game going, [and] could not get our deep-two, pull-up game going,” said Connecticut head coach and general manager Curt Miller after the contest. “They made more shots than us, and more tough plays.”

After Rogers knocked in a trey from downtown Norwich with 3:38 remaining in regulation, giving New York an 80-63 lead, the writing was on the wall for Connecticut—especially with their two stars in deep foul trouble. Indeed, the Sun played in a funk all night.

Chosen No. 1 overall by the Sun in 2010 out of UConn, Charles has
been a major nemesis for the Sun in recent years.

“We couldn’t find our rhythm,” Jasmine Thomas said. “Even when it looked like we were getting close, we couldn’t get over that hump, couldn’t tie it, couldn’t take the lead. It happens sometimes.”

Yes, it does. But playing against Charles, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 2010 WNBA draft by the Sun after an amazing career at UConn, and who called Uncasville home for the first three years of her professional career, certainly didn’t help matters for Connecticut.

“She is one of my toughest assignments,” Alyssa Thomas admitted. “She’s a great player, has a lot of counter moves and has a size advantage on me.”

Charles has also been a major international star throughout her career, having played—and excelled—in Turkey, Poland and China, where she most recently played for the Sichuan Whales. Among Charles’ many accolades are Naismith college Player of the Year, WNBA Rookie of the Year, five WNBA All-Star selections, four All-WNBA first-team selections (and three second-team honors), two NCAA championships at UConn, three overseas professional championships, and equivalent player of the year awards in Turkey (twice) and Poland.

Accomplished resume, you say?

But wait, there’s more. On the 2012 gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s basketball team in London, Charles was a teammate with not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, but five other UConn players (Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones, Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi, as well as former Sun star Lindsay Whalen. That team, of course, was coached by Geno Auriemma. Bird and Charles are both alumna of Christ the King High School in New York City (Middle Village, Queens, to be exact).

Friday was Think Pink Night at the Mohegan Sun. Think Pink is an initiative by the WNBA and its member teams that raises awareness of the scourge of breast cancer. And as fine a cause as that may be, the Sun would be well advised to start thinking basketball post haste as things won’t get any easier when Diana Taurasi and the 15-13 Phoenix Sun invade the Mohegan Sun Arena. Brittney Griner, the WNBA’s leading scorer, has been out for a month with a bruised knee and sprained ankle. Tip-off is at 3 p.m., and for those unable to attend, the game will be televised on CSNHD and streamed on WNBA League Pass. Tickets are available at the Mohegan Sun box office or by clicking HERE.

—with staff reports