Mohegan — Alyssa Thomas was the Connecticut Sun’s avatar Friday night for what was the solar eclipse of basketball games — one may view it, but at their own peril.

The big plays, both good and bad, seemed to be stalking Thomas at times. One moment she made a big layup. Seconds later, she was getting whistled for a flagrant foul.

Thomas kept fighting, though, just like the rest of her Sun teammates. The game was unsightly. It seemed to last five hours. And Connecticut’s offense went AWOL against a depleted Los Angeles Sparks team consisting of just several healthy players, coaches, and an overwhelmed trainer.

All that matters is that the Sun won another teeth-grinder, 80-76 in overtime, before 5,542 fans at Mohegan Sun Arena.

It was quite a way for Connecticut to extend its winning streak to seven, its longest since 2008.

“I try not to get down on myself,” Thomas said. “You’re not going to make everything. I just try to bring energy in a different way. Try to get my hands on some balls and get offensive rebounds.”

Easier said than done when it seemed at times that Thomas was jinxed.

“Oh, man, it was,” Thomas said. “You’ve got to stay composed, and at times it’s hard.”

Thomas missed 9 of 13 shots and 4 of her 7 free throws. She still got herself 11 points and seven rebounds and some key plays late.

“(She kept) plugging away and made some big buckets for us,” Connecticut coach Anne Donovan said. “People have scouted AT and they’re taking away the paint on her. They’re forcing her to take the outside shot. AT can hit that shot (from) 12-to-15 feet. She just didn’t do it tonight. Yet she continued to find a way."

Connecticut (7-1) won despite shooting 34.7 percent.

“There was nobody that had a great night tonight, but AT is never going to hurt you,” Donovan said. “She may not make the shots, but she’s going to make a big defensive play, (get) great offensive boards, and she really showed maturity.”

Alex Bentley had 18 points and four steals and Camille Little added 13 points, six rebounds and three steals for the Sun. Jasmine Thomas added 12 points and reserve Chelsea Gray 11 points.

Center Jantel Lavender had 22 points and 12 rebounds as she punished Connecticut inside for the Sparks (0-6). And rookie Andrea Hoover — the 31st overall pick (third round) in April’s draft — played like the second coming of Katie Smith by scoring 17.

Los Angeles gave the Sun problems despite being without (deep breath) starters Alana Beard (left knee), Candace Parker (sabbatical), and Kristi Toliver (just returned from her Slovak Republic team commitments), as well as top reserve Erin Phillips (right knee sprain).

The Sparks led by as much as 32-18 with over 3 minutes left in the second quarter. The Sun clanked 25 of their 35 field goals in that half, too.

“It was ugly, but it was a win,” Donovan said. “They play from behind pretty well. That’s the good news.”

Little said, “(The win) shows character. The shots weren’t falling, and we still didn’t play great defense. We could’ve played much better defense.”

Little made two free throws second after the overtime tipoff and Bentley followed with a short jumper. Bentley followed with a steal that led to a Jasmine Thomas layup to push Connecticut ahead, 73-67. It never trailed again.

Alyssa Thomas added a late offensive rebound that led to two free throws by Jasmine Thomas to give the Sun a 77-73 edge with 24.5 seconds remaining.

“If we were down like that last year, I don’t think we would’ve been able to pull out a win like this,” Alyssa Thomas said. “We’re definitely learning.”

n.griffen@theday.com

Twitter: @MetalNED