Behind a balanced scoring effort and a defense that forced 12 steals, the Connecticut Sun got in the win column for the first time this season with a 72-68 victory over the San Antonio Stars at the AT&T Center.
Camille Little led the way, scoringwise, for Connecticut with 13 points. Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Bone, and Jasmine Thomas added 12 points each with Bone adding 10 rebounds for a double-double. Jasmine Thomas also contributed eight assists.
For San Antonio, Dearica Hamby led all scorers with 16 and also chimed in with nine rebounds. Kayla McBride also added 13 points.
Things started in auspicious fashion for the Sun as they raced out to 6-0 lead in the first two minutes of play. With six minutes left in the first, San Antonio cut the deficit to 10-9, but not before Connecticut assumed a 25-17 advantage at the end of the first half.
An 8-0 run for the Stars allowed them to tie it up at 25, and they had a 36-32 lead but not before it would be the Sun that had a 39-36 advantage going into halftime.
Connecticut’s defense then held San Antonio to only one point in the first three minutes of the third. San Antonio once again cut its deficit to one late in the third, but not before—as on the first—the Sun extended its lead to 57-51 heading into the fourth.
This would once again be the case in the fourth, as despite a 59-59 tie, the Stars could not break through to take the lead as the Sun earned its first win the season.
The win for Connecticut puts them at 1-1 while the Stars fall to 0-2. On Saturday, the Sun will play their home opener against the Washington Mystics. That same day, the Stars will stay in their home state of Texas—but will be on the road in Arlington as the undefeated Dallas Wings await.
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
