WNBA Connecticut Sun

Connecticut Sun Head to Break with Win over New York Liberty

Published on July 11, 2021 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Connecticut Sun News Release


In the last game for the Connecticut Sun ahead of the Olympic break, the Sun (14-6) faced the New York Liberty (10-11) in Brooklyn, NY at the Barclays Center. The Sun defeated the Liberty 71-54 and hold a 2-0 advantage in the three-game series. New York's 54 points is the fewest amount allowed by the Sun since an 82-51 win over the San Antonio Stars (8/4/15). The two opponents will face one another on Sept. 15 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Before the Olympic break, Brionna Jones, DeWanna Bonner and Jonquel Jones will participate in the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 14 in Las Vegas, NV. J. Jones will compete in the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest at halftime of the all-star game.

On Friday, July 9, the Sun clinched their spot in the WNBA's Inaugural Commissioner's Cup as the Eastern Conference representative.

The Sun held a strong 22-12 advantage over the Liberty after the first. New York grabbed a brief 8-7 lead with six and a half minutes on the clock. Connecticut's next basket would spark a 10-0 run, which ended as a 15-4 run to close out the quarter.

Connecticut finished the half up 37-28 on New York. The Liberty came within seven points at one point in the second quarter, but the Sun maintained a 9+ point advantage for a majority of the frame.

At the break, Connecticut was shooting 40 percent from the field compared to New York's 26.9 percent.

The Sun extended their lead (55-37) to 18 after outscoring the Liberty 18-9 in the third. Connecticut scored 16-straight points, holding New York scoreless for over seven minutes. The Liberty only scored three-field goals for the quarter, all of which were from beyond the arc.

New York would go on to outscore the Sun 17-16 in the fourth quarter, receiving seven points from Jazmine Jones and five from Kylee Shook. Natisha Hiedeman scored six for the Sun that quarter and DiJonai Carrington added five.

Three Sun players reached double figures on the afternoon.

Jonquel Jones scored a team-high 17 points, grabbed a team and season-high 17 rebounds and dished out a team-high five assists. Jones has scored in double-figures in every game this season and has secured a double-double for the 10th time this season.

Jasmine Thomas scored 12 points on three made field goals, two three-pointers and four freethrows.

Briann January scored 10 points of her own, recorded four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

DeWanna Bonner (5569) moved up to 17th on the WNBA All-Time Points list, passing Katie Douglas (5563), and into 23rd with Diana Taurasi on the WNBA All-Time Steals list (458) passing Tangela Smith. She scored eight points in today's contest, had two steals, two assists and three rebounds.

The Sun's bench contributed 18 points, nine of which came from Natisha Hiedeman who shot 3-of-6 from behind the arc. DiJonai Carrington scored five points and Beatrice Mompremier added four.

As a team, Connecticut outscored the Liberty 24-14 in the paint, outrebounded them 42-34 and shot 37.9 percent (25-66) to New York's 30.4 percent (17-56).

Connecticut kept New York's three leading scorers, Betnijah Laney, Sami Whitcomb and Sabrina Ionescu to a combined eight points. Whitcomb recorded five points, Laney added three on one made three-pointer and Ionescu was held scoreless.

Kylee Shook led the Liberty with a career-high 16 points, Micaela Onyenwere scored 12 points and Jazmine Jones finished with 10 points.

Check out the Connecticut Sun Statistics

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