Indianapolis — The Connecticut Sun led for almost the entire second half Saturday night against the Indiana Fever.

The Sun proceeded to do so much wrong in the final two minutes and gave the game away.

Connecticut wasted an 11-point, third-quarter lead and lost to the Fever, 81-79, before 7,385 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

“You gotta give (Indiana’s) veteran crew credit,” Sun head coach Curt Miller said. “They got to the foul line late. They got to the basket late when we were trying to shoot jump shots late.

“We had a chance to extend (our lead) early in that fourth quarter … and we let them hang around, and that’s what happens in this league. So many games come down to the final stretch and they played better.”

Jonquel Jones’ three-point play gave the Sun a 60-49 lead with 59 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Fever outscored Connecticut, 13-7, in the final one minute, 56 seconds.

Shenise Johnson’s pull-up bank shot gave Indiana a 74-72 lead with 46 seconds remaining, its first lead of the second half.

“When you have a lead like that, you have to keep going,” Sun guard Alex Bentley said. “You’ve gotta keep going at them. You’ve go to extend the lead. And we just didn’t do a great job at all of doing that tonight.”

Candice Dupree had 19 points and six rebounds for the Fever (1-2) and Erlana Larkins added 12 points, nine rebounds and five steals.

Jones made 7 of 11 field goals and had 19 points, 12 rebounds and four assists for Connecticut (0-2).

Fouls were again a problem for the Sun with Jones fouling out with 2:54 remaining in the game. Connecticut committed 27 fouls with the Fever making 28 of 29 free throws. The Sun were 14 of 15.

Every Connecticut starter scored in double figures. Morgan Tuck had 13 points and six rebounds and Alex Bentley scored 14. Lynetta Kizer scored 12 and Courtney Williams had 10 points and five rebounds.

The Sun were without starters Alyssa Thomas (concussion) and Jasmine Thomas (brother’s wedding).

Connecticut undermined itself with 18 turnovers to nine for the Fever. Williams (six) and Bentley (four) each made a late turnover that hurt the Sun.

Dupree hit a pull-up jumper to cut Connecticut’s lead to 72-70 with 1:56 left.

Moments later, Bentley tried a no-look pass across her body to teammate Danielle Adams. Briann January tipped Bentley’s pass towards Johnson, who was fouled by Adams. Johnson made two free throws to tie the game at 1:39.

Williams missed a pull-up jumper on the other end, got the rebound, and missed a second shot. Johnson scored on the Fever’s next trip to give them a 74-72 lead.

Williams dribbled the ball off of her foot with 26.8 seconds remaining. Tuck fouled Dupree, who made two free throws to push the Fever ahead 76-72.

Tuck made a 3-pointer on the other end for the Sun.

January tried to get past Bentley on the inbounds play and was grabbed by the latter before the ball was put into play, a dead ball foul (a technical). Dupree made the technical, and then made two free throws after being fouled with 15.4 seconds left.

Connecticut let 13 seconds wind off the clock before Bentley made a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds remaining.

“We've just got to be better defensively; make better decisions," Bentley said. We just have to finish.”