Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Sun Survive Scare, Scalp Sky 100-94


Sun star Jonquel Jones drives past former UConn star
Stefanie Dolson in Connecticut’s 100-94 victory

By Bob Phillips

UNCASVILLE—Jonquel Jones put up her customary double-double with a 27-point, 11-rebound performance to lead the Connecticut Sun over the Chicago Sky, 100-94, before 6,348 fans on a hot, steamy night at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Tuesday. It was the Sun’s first game since the All-Star Game in Las Vegas, in which Jones was a starter, and teammate Alyssa Thomas was a reserve.

Jasmine Thomas added 18 points, and Alyssa Thomas and Courtney Williams each scored 12 for Connecticut, which improved to 14-6 and reached the century mark for the first time this season.

Allie Quigley led Chicago with 24 points and four three-pointers, while Courtney Vandersloot had 22 points and 11 assists. Former UConn stars Stefanie Dolson and Katie Lou Samuelson added eight and six points respectively for the Sky, who fell to 11-9.

The Sun led by two points at the first turn, 28-26, and opened up a double-digit advantage, 57-43, at halftime. After increasing the margin to 19 points after three periods, the Sun let their feet off the pedal and allowed the Sky back into the game. Chicago outscored the home team 31-18 in the fourth quarter and cut the Connecticut lead to just four points after a three-pointer by Courtney Vandersloot with 1:18 remaining in regulation. But Jones grabbed an offensive rebound on the Sun’s next possession and was fouled. She hit both foul shots, and added two more in the game’s final seconds, to preserve the win—the Sun’s fifth straight.

"This team has a lot of experience,” said Jasmine Thomas, a two-time WNBA All-Defensive First-Team section, on letting the opponents back into the game. “We keep our composure, we close out close games, and that's what we did. They are talented. We know they can score a lot of points but ultimately it is up to what we can control. And we control how we play, how we close out games and that's what we did."

The 100 points represented the highest point total for the Sun this season, and the third time the team has reached the century mark in franchise history. Connecticut also registered a season-high 29 assists led by Shekinna Stricklen with a career high six. Indeed, her second helper of the contest represented the 200th of her career.

"That's a big win tonight,” said Sun head coach and general manager Curt Miller. “[Chicago's a] really, really talented offensive team that was hot coming into the game.” The Sky had won their four previous games.

“We executed well at both ends,” continued Miller. “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 another good win for us to keep us in first place."

While obviously disappointed with the result, Chicago head coach James Wade was effusive with praise for his opponents.

“They are a championship caliber team and we wanted to use all 40 minutes to measure ourselves against them,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for Curt his players—I have playing against them for years. We have a sour taste because we lost, but we wanted to make it a little nervous for them. Our bench was able to set the tone, our starters came in and put it to a point where it was a back-and-forth game.”

Next up for the Sun will be a game against UConn legend Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. For ticket information, please click HERE.
—with staff reports

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