Sun Win First Game Behind Historic Effort From Jonquel Jones

Jonquel Jones (35) joined an elite club on Sunday when she scored 20 points
and grabbed 21 boards vs. the Chicago Sky in Rosemont, Ill.

ROSEMONT, ILL. – Jonquel Jones became the first player in Connecticut Sun history to record a 20-20 game, posting career highs of 23 points and 21 rebounds as the Sun earned its first win of the season, routing the Chicago Sky, 97-79, before 4,498 fans on Sunday night at the Allstate Arena. Jones, who became just the 13th player in WNBA history to register at least 20 points and haul down 20 boards in a single game, also had 20 caroms in the season opener against Atlanta, becoming the third player in league history to record multiple 20-rebound games in a single season. Tina Charles had three in 2010, and Sylvia Fowles two in 2013.

Alyssa Thomas chipped in with her fifth career "Double-D," collecting season highs of 17 points and 10 rebounds while also dishing out five assists. She has 11 assists in the last two games for Connecticut, which improved to 1-4. Indeed, the Sun are in the process of becoming a solid road team, having lost to the Minnesota Lynx by just two points in Minneapolis last time out. Lynetta Kizer came off the bench to provide a spark for Connecticut with a season-high 16 points. She matched a season high with seven rebounds.

In a game that featured five ties and six lead changes early in the contest, the Sun built a 27-21 lead over Chicago after one quarter, and held a 12-point advantage, 49-37, at intermission.

Outscored by 46 combined points from the foul line in their first four games this season, the Sun reversed that trend in Rosemont, where they hit a season-high 15 made free throws on 18 attempts in the first half alone. The Sun finished 28-for-39 from the line, outscoring an opponent from the charity stripe for the first time this season. The Sky was 19-for-31.

Chicago cut the Connecticut margin to four—57-53—with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter, but the Sun gradually pulled away behind Jones. Tamera Young led the Sky with 17 point, Allie Quigley added 13, while Cappie Pondexter had an 11-point, 9-assist game. Former UConn favorite Stefanie Dolson chipped in with four points and five boards. The Sky fell to 1-5 on the young season.

Next up for the Sun is a trip to D.C. where they will take on Mike Thibault, Elena Delle Donne and the Washington Mystics on Wednesday, with a special matinee tip-off at 11:30 a.m. The game will be available on WNBA League Pass and CSN New England.

—Staff Reports