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| Without the services of UConn legend Diana Taurasi, the Phoenix Mercury were further hampered when 6-9 Brittney Griner left the game with an injured ankle before halftime. The Sun rallied for their sixth straight win. |
UNCASVILLE—Behind a customary double-double from All-Star starter Jonquel Jones (15 points, 14 rebounds), the Connecticut Sun stopped the Phoenix Mercury, 68-62, before 6,014 fans at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday night. Courtney Williams added 14 points for the Eastern Conference-leading Sun, scoring 12 in the fourth quarter. Shekinna Stricklen added 12 points, and Jasmine Thomas had 10 for Connecticut. It was the 11th double-double J.J. has put up this season—and her fourth in the past six games.
The game was tied 20-20 at the first turn, and the Mercury turned in up in the second period, and took a 36-32 lead into the locker room at intermission. But, as has been the case all season, the Sun came out jacked in the third period and assumed control of the game. Connecticut held Phoenix to nine points in the third period, and led 47-45 at the third pole. The home team went on to continue controlling the game and came away with a six-point win.
The Mercury were playing shorthanded after All-Star center Britney Griner left the contest at 6:23 of the second period after injuring her ankle. In addition, UConn fans were disappointed when Husky legend Diana Taurasi did not play—although her college coach, Geno Auriemma, came to watch and sat courtside.
The Mercury’s DeWanna Bonner led all scorers with 20 points and grabbed 10 boards, and diminutive point guard Leilani Mitchell added 13 for Phoenix, which fell to 10-10. The Sun, meanwhile, won their sixth straight game and are now 15-6 on the season—11-1 on their home court.
"Proud of that locker room tonight,” said Sun head
coach and general manager Curt Miller. “That was gritty, is one way hopefully,
positively to describe that. You know, they’re not all going to be pretty. They
haven't all been pretty this year. But another gritty win. We were sloppy in
transition. We had nine turnovers in transition. So… gritty.
“We could have easily lost that game, but when they lost
Brittney Griner for the second half, and without Diana Taurasi, you
really want to take advantage of that opportunity. And for us to cut that out
when it could have gone a different direction, easily, I'm proud.”
Next up for the Sun will be a game vs. Tina Charles, Kia
Nurse, Bria Hartley, and the archrival 8-12 New York Liberty on Sunday. Tip-off
at the Mohegan Sun Arena will be at 3 p.m. For those unable to make the game,
it will be televised on NBA-TV, YES and WCCT-TV/CW20.
Rock the Pink Weekend
The Sun will be holding Rock the Pink Weekend on Aug. 16 and 18. Fans
are encouraged to wear pink to the games (vs. Seattle on Aug. 16 and Dallas on
Aug. 18), and the Sun will be wearing
specialized jerseys featuring pink accents to highlight Breast Health Awareness
Weekend. Both games will have elements to honor those we have lost and champion
the survivors resulting in a special weekend both on and off the court.
Festivities include:- · Jersey Auction
- · A Special Evening With Jasmine Thomas
- · I Fight For Placards
- · Breast Cancer Awareness Pins
For tickets to
the Seattle game on Aug. 16, please click HERE. For
tickets to the Dallas game, please click HERE. For more information,
please call 1.877.SUN.TIXX or email tickets@ConnecticutSun.com
—with staff reports
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