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    CT Sun
    Wednesday, May 08, 2024

    Sun rout Sky and improve to 4-0

    Chicago — The Connecticut Sun clunked nine of their first 10 shots on Friday night. And they still tied the franchise record for most points in a game.

    Alex Bentley and Jonquel Jones both scored 20 off the bench as Connecticut ripped the Chicago Sky 110-72 at Wintrust Arena.

    The Sun (4-0) are off to their best start since 2011 when they won their first seven games. They’re the only unbeaten team left in the 12-team WNBA.

    It was the third time Connecticut scored 100-or-more points. It tied the franchise record for most points in a game set during a 110-89 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on July 7, 2007.

    The Sun join the Phoenix Mercury as the only team's in league history to score 100-or-more three times in four games.

    Adding to the craziness was that Connecticut trailed Chicago, 7-2, with five minutes, 44 seconds left in the first quarter.

    “I think there’s certainly areas of growth,” Sun head coach Curt Miller said. “I thought that we fouled again too much tonight. We were a little bit slow on rotations and at the point of attack. So, we have to continue getting better. But it was a big start, our first road game of the year, to put up those kind of points.”

    Connecticut shot 51.2-percent (42-of-82). It was the second-most made field goals in a game in team history. It also used an overwhelming 49-24 rebounding advantage for a 25-4 edge in second-chance points.

    Jones and Bentley combined to shoot 16-of-21. Jones also added six rebounds in 17 minutes.

    The Sun had five double-digit scorers with Alyssa Thomas getting her second double-double of the young season (10 points, game-high 13 rebounds). She also had four assists and two blocks.

    “We weren’t making shots early, so we had to get on the boards to get something going for us,” Thomas said. “That’s one of my strengths, so I just kind of crashed hard out there.”

    Chiney Ogwumike had 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocks for Connecticut, and Courtney Williams added 15 points and four rebounds.

    Chicago (2-3) was without starters Stefanie Dolson (strained foot tendon) and Allie Quigley (strained hip adductor). The latter was the league’s fifth-leading scorer (19.3 ppg) prior to Friday night’s games.

    Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot made her season-debut having arrived this week after finishing her overseas commitments. She had 11 points and seven assists. Rookie Diamond DeShields added 15 points and four rebounds.

    “Even though they’re undermanned, it was a big win for us tonight for confidence,” Miller said. “It was a (good) way to start out a very, very difficult road trip.”

    Connecticut will play three more times in five days on its road trip.

    Chicago helped the Sun by turning it over 23 times for 33 points. It was the 11th turnover that got them going.

    Connecticut had a slim 34-31 lead with just over five minutes left in the first half when Betnijah Laney’s steal led to an Alyssa Thomas layup. Jasmine Thomas followed with a 3-pointer to continue a 14-2 Sun run.

    Chicago got as close as nine points (54-45) with 6:24 left in the third quarter. Connecticut answered with a 39-17 run that stretched into the fourth quarter.

    Morgan Tuck's two free throws gave the Sun a 93-62 lead with 4:54 remaining in the game.

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