Mohegan — The Connecticut Sun didn’t get much time home to rest after a three game, five-day road trip as they head west again and play at the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.

Should the Sun need instant energy after after a taxing home win Friday night and flying on Saturday, they know who can provide it. Rookie DiJonai Carrington.

Connecticut was floundering over four minutes into Friday’s game against the Washington Mystics. It missed its first six shots, turned it over three times and fell behind by eight points.

Carrington entered the game and quickly scored the Sun’s first five points, including a 3-pointer. She scored eight of her 10 in that quarter and finished with two steals in the Sun’s 86-81 win.

“All my life I’ve been a scorer,” Carrington said. “I saw that we were struggling to score and I felt like that was something we needed a spark with.”

Connecticut and the Lynx tip at 7 p.m. at the Target Center (NESN).

“Huge spark from DC (tonight),” Sun head coach Curt Miller said. “(She) really gave us a spark offensively, scored in double figures and she plays really hard.”

There have been times early in this season in which Carrington has played too fast for her own good offensively, a problem that many WNBA rookies or younger players have. Her motor, though, is one of her strengths. She’s going to provide maximum effort. She won’t back down. She’s fearless and won’t hesitate to take her shot if it’s there.

“D is always ready,” Sun captain Jasmine Thomas said with a chuckle. “She just brings this energy and this toughness and this grit. ... It starts on the defensive end. She’s a strong, physical guard, so she’s able to guard multiple positions.

“She’s young, she’s a rookie, so she’s still trying to kind of feel her way out, but she makes up for so much with just her hustle and her toughness and that’s the first thing I love about her. We got off to a slow start (Friday) and she came in and gave us the light and the energy we needed on both ends of the floor.”

Miller was surprised that the 5-foot-11 Carrington was still available at No. 20 (second round) in April’s WNBA Draft. She averaged 14.1 points and 4.9 rebounds her senior season at Baylor and earned the 2020-21 Big 12 Sixth Woman of Year award.

Carrington certainly made an impression on UConn fans as she scored a team-high 22 for the Bears in their 69-67 loss in the River Walk regional final against the Huskies on March 29.

“I try to play both sides of the ball and I think that’s what made me an attractive pick for Connecticut,” Carrington said. “Obviously I need improvements on both sides, but some players play (just) one side of the ball.”

n.griffen@theday.com