Connecticut Sun Suffer First Loss Of The Season

The Connecticut Sun’s undefeated record (5-0) was ended by the Seattle Storm, the 2020 defending champions. The Sun fall to 5-1 on the season and conclude the three-game road trip 2-1. The Storm improve to 4-1.

Seattle held the lead for a majority of the first half. The Storm led at the end of the first (27-23) and at the break (46-40). In that time there were three lead changes and four ties. The Sun led by as much as five and the Storm led by as many as eight. The game finished with five lead changes and eight ties.

In the second quarter, Connecticut scored five three-point field goals to help put them up 40-35. Natisha Hiedeman scored four of the team’s three pointers in that quarter.

Late in the third, Connecticut went down 11 points (61-50). The Sun came back and scored nine straight points cutting the Storm’s lead to two. Seattle scored the last basket of the quarter and ended the third up 63-59.

Jonquel Jones hit a three pointer with 43.2 seconds remaining in the contest to tie things up at 77. Sue Bird hit two free throws to take back the lead and DiJonai Carrington hit a reverse layup to even the score (79-79) and send it into overtime. This is the Sun’s first overtime game since Sept. 9, 2020 in a 100-95 loss to the Phoenix Mercury.

The Storm jumped out to a 8-0 run on two Bird three pointers and a Jewell Loyd layup. Connecticut was able to make another run and cut Seattle’s lead to three (87-84). Breanna Stewart hit one more three pointer for the Storm which was followed by a  J. Jones basket from beyond the arc which concluded the scoring for the contest.

Four Connecticut players scored in double figures for the fourth time this season (5/16 + 5/19, 5/21).

DeWanna Bonner scored 15 points, 10 of which were in the second half. For the third straight game she shot 100 percent from the free throw line and scored her 13^th free throw in a row. Bonner tallied her 21st consecutive 10+ point game.

J. Jones scored a team-high 28 points and grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds. She tallied her 44th career double-double and fifth in a row. Jones also added three steals, two blocks and shot 10 for 19 from the field.

Brionna Jones scored 10 points in the first quarter on 5-of-6 from the field. She finished with 19 points for the Sun on 9-of-13 from the field. Jones also tallied six rebounds, two blocks, two assists and one steal. Her third rebound of the game marked her 300^th career rebound.

Jasmine Thomas added nine points and tallied a season-high six assists, grabbed five rebounds and had two steals.

Hiedeman scored 14 points and made a career-high four three pointers. Her previous was three made, set four times. She also had four assists, one steal and one block.

Connecticut outscored Seattle 44-26 in the paint but was outrebounded by the Storm, 38-37 and outscored 26-8 in fast break points.

Bird led the team with 21 points, had three rebounds and two assists. Loyd followed with 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Breanna Stewart finished with 17 points, 12 of which were scored in the first quarter, and a team-high 12 rebounds. Stephanie Talbot also reached double figures with 11 points.

via: Sun PR