By Bob Phillips
 |
| Lindsay Whalen (13) chases the Sun's Jasmine Thomas on Friday night. It was the final regular-season appearance in Connecticut for Whalen, a former Sun star. |
UNCASVILLE —
The Connecticut Sun locked up a home playoff game Friday night, rolling to a
96-79 victory over the Minnesota Lynx before 7,089 fans at Mohegan Sun Arena on
Friday night. Besides the obvious importance of the game for the Sun and their
fans, it was also the final regular season appearance at the Mohegan Sun for
former Sun star Lindsay Whalen, who will be retiring after this season
concludes.
Jonquel
Jones led the Sun with 26 points, and tied her career-high with five made three-pointers.
In the past two games, Jones has made 18 of 23 shots from the field—including 9
of 13 from downtown—and has averaged 26.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in those
games. Alyssa Thomas flirted with her first career triple-double with an 18-point,
8-rebound, 8-assist performance. Courtney Williams, with 13 points and 8
boards, and Layshia Clarendon (14 points, 5 assists), also had big nights for
the Connecticut offense.
The
Lynx, meanwhile, Minnesota were led by Sylvia Fowles with 25 points. UConn
legend Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus chipped in with 12 points each, and
Cecilia Zandalasini added 10 for the defending WNBA champs, who fell to 17-16.
The
Sun popped in 35 field goals and added 25 assists to the bottom line, setting
new single-season franchise marks in both categories with 644 assists and 1,112
made field goals and 644 assists. That broke the old franchise standards were
630 assists set in 2006 and 1,098 made field goals last year. In addition, with
the win the Sun now have posted back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time
since 2011-12 while completing a 3-0 regular-season sweep of the Lynx.
The
Sun trailed 28-22 rounding the first turn, but cut the Minnesota advantage to
three, 46-43, heading into the locker room at intermission. Connecticut was led
by Alyssa Thomas, with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists. She then went
on to post a red-hot 5-for-6 performance from the floor in the third quarter as
Connecticut opened a 72-67 rounding the third pole. Clarendon, who had her best
night in a Sun uniform, ignited a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter with a
layup. The sixth-year pro out of California also had a pair of free throws,
while Jones knocked down a a three-pointer.
The
Sun built a 14-point advantage, 81-67 with 6:48 remaining in regulation, and
never looked back. With the win, Connecticut improves to 20-13 and is guaranteed
to finish the regular season no lower than sixth place overall, which translates
into a single-elimination home game on Tuesday night.
“They came out with a real intensity about them to start off
that half and give them credit for that,” said Whalen, the Minnesota native who
returned to her home state after leading the Sun into the championship round
vs. the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005.” We were down six mid-way through third, [and]
coach called timeout. Then it just continued for them.
“They have a very talented team—a lot of really good players,
and they have really found this year how to play together,” continued the
former Gopher superstar. “I give them credit for a really good performance
tonight, and I thought we still had some good looks. If we see them next week in the playoffs there
are some things we improve on and see what happens with the rest of this week.”
The
Sun close out the regular season on Sunday when they celebrate Fan Appreciation
Day at Mohegan Sun Arena vs. Los Angeles Sparks. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.,
and the game will be televised on NBC Sports Boston, and streamed on the Sun’s
Twitter page.
—with
staff reports
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