Hiedeman Drops a Career-High 24 Points in 82-71 Win over the Atlanta Dream
July 20, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Connecticut Sun News Release
Uncasville, CT - Today, the Connecticut Sun (16-6) defeated the Atlanta Dream (12-9), 82-71, in their annual Camp Day game. The Sun lead the season series, 2-1, and will meet the Dream for the final time in the regular season on Saturday in Atlanta.
The Sun was led by Natisha Hiedeman who notched a career-high 24 points, going a career-best six for seven from behind the arc. She also added three rebounds, three assists and a season-high four steals. Hiedeman tallied 20 points in the third quarter alone, which marks a new franchise record for most points scored by an individual player in a quarter. The previous record was held by Courtney Williams, who tallied 16 points in single quarter against the Washington Mystics on 6/18/18.
1Q- Connecticut held a 17-10 lead over Atlanta with 3:52 remaining in the first quarter. Tiffany Hayes tallied five points and Rebecca Allen racked up four blocks in the opening minutes of play. Atlanta closed the quarter on an 9-2 run to close the tie the contest, 19-19, heading into the second. Alyssa Thomas led the Sun with six points, one rebound, one assist and one block in the first ten minutes of action.
2Q- The Dream opened the second quarter on a 10-7 run to take a three-point lead over the Sun, 29-26, with 5:39 left in the first half. Both teams finished the quarter notching 12 points apiece, with the Dream taking a three-point lead into the locker room, 41-38. Allen led Connecticut in scoring with nine points in the first half. Thomas added eight points and six rebounds after twenty minutes of play.
3Q- The Sun opened the second half on an 18-11 run to take a four-point advantage over the Dream, 56-52, with 4:22 to play in the third quarter. Natisha Hiedeman tallied 13 of Connecticut's 18 points on that run, including three three-point field goals. The Sun finished the quarter on a 11-7 spurt to take a 67-59 lead into the fourth. Hiedeman tallied 20 of Connecticut's 29 third quarter points, going 5-5 from beyond the arc. Atlanta as a team tallied 18 third-quarter points.
4Q- Connecticut opened the fourth on a quick 4-0 run forcing Atlanta into a timeout with 8:26 to go in the game. Following that timeout, Connecticut was able to close out the game, not letting Atlanta get closer than 11 points in the final stretch. The Sun outscored the Dream, 15-12, in the fourth to take the 82-71 victory. DiJonai Carrington had six of the Sun's 15 in the closing ten minutes.
Atlanta was led by Rhyne Howard who tallied 22 points, two rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Connecticut shot 42.6% (29-68) from the floor, while holding Atlanta to 39.1% (25-64) from the field on the day.
Sun Notes:
With seven assists on the day, Alyssa Thomas eclipsed 1,000 assists in her career (1,006). She also eclipsed 400 career-steals with two steals in the outing (401).
Thomas became the fastest player to achieve at least 3,000 points, 1,800 rebounds, 1,000 assists and 400 steals, doing it in 261 games.
She is one of six players in WNBA history to achieve at least 3,000 points, 1,800 rebounds, 1,000 assists and 400 steals (DeWanna Bonner, Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, Lindsay Whalen and Tamika Catchings).
DeWanna Bonner moved into 8th all-time in scoring in WNBA history (6,582), passing Candace Parker (6,574)
Rebecca Allen notched a career-high six blocks in the win. She also added 13 points, three rebounds and two steals.
DeWanna Bonner tied Plenette Pierson for 15th all-time in games played in WNBA history (444).
Natisha Hiedeman tied Brook Wyckoff for 17th all-time in games played in Connecticut Sun history (132).
Team Score Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 PTS REB AST
CON 82 19 19 29 15 Hiedeman- 24 Thomas- 10 Thomas- 7
ATL 71 19 22 18 12 Howard- 22 Coffey- 13 Gray- 7
NEXT GAME: The Connecticut Sun are back on the road against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, July 22 at 1:00 PM ET.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 20, 2023
- Brittney Griner Moves into Second on Mercury's All-Time Scoring List - Phoenix Mercury
- Lynx Activate Aerial Powers - Minnesota Lynx
- Hiedeman Drops a Career-High 24 Points in 82-71 Win over the Atlanta Dream - Connecticut Sun
- Final: Atlanta 71, Connecticut 82 - Atlanta Dream
- Mercury Signs Liz Dixon to a Seven-Day Contract, Jennie Simms Waived - Phoenix Mercury
- Minnesota Lynx and Saul Ewing to Host "She Got Game" Camps July 26-27 and August 24 - Minnesota Lynx
- Rachel Banham Injury Update - Minnesota Lynx
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