Five players finish in double-figures for Connecticut.
Uncasville, CT (September 8, 2023)- Tonight, the Connecticut Sun (27-12) defeated the Indiana Fever (12-27). The Sun sweep the Fever in regular season action for the second season in a row, 4-0.
The Sun was led in scoring by Tiffany Hayes who finished with 14 points, two rebounds and one assist on the night.
1Q- Connecticut led Indiana, 13-8, heading into the first media timeout of the contest. Natisha Hiedeman led the Sun with six points, while Alyssa Thomas added three points, four rebounds and one assist with 4:05 remaining in the first quarter. Connecticut finished the quarter on a 13-2 run out of that timeout to take a 16-point advantage into the second. Hiedeman led all scorers with nine points, while Rebecca Allen added eight points and one block after the first ten minutes of action. The Fever’s 10 first-quarter marks a new season-low for points allowed by the Sun in the first quarter of play.
2Q- The Sun held the Fever without a field goal until the 7:43 mark in the second and outscored them 7-6 to begin the quarter to push their lead up to 17, 33-16, with 5:04 to go in the first half. DeWanna Bonner nailed a triple, while Ty Harris and Olivia Nelson-Ododa each notched layups on that stretch for the Sun. Indiana went on a 11-2 run to cut Connecticut’s lead to eight out of that media timeout, 35-27, with 2:19 to go in the second. After the Sun led by as many as 21 in the second quarter, the Fever found life, cutting the Sun’s lead to six, 37-31, heading into the locker room.
Hiedeman led Connecticut with 10 points in the first half. Bonner added six points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Thomas tallied three points, nine rebounds and three assists through two quarters. The Sun went 41.9% (13-31) from the floor including 42.9% (6-14) from three, while holding the Fever to 39.4% (13-33) from the field, including 14.3% (1-7) from beyond the arc in the first.
3Q- The Sun opened the second half outscoring the Fever, 9-7, to push their lead back up to eight, 46-38, with 4:44 to go in the third. A three by Hayes at 7:16 mark broke a Sun field goal drought that stretched back to the 4:55 mark in the second quarter. Connecticut finished the quarter on a 13-6 run out of the media timeout to extend their lead to 15, 59-44. Hayes came alive in the third quarter after going scoreless in the first half, notching 11 points in the ten minutes out of the locker room to lead the Sun.
4Q- Connecticut and Indiana traded baskets throughout the fourth quarter, with Connecticut winning the final ten minutes of play, 17-15, to carry out the 76-59 win. After missing the previous five games with a foot injury, DiJonai Carrington returned to the floor, leading the Sun with eight of her ten points in the closing quarter.
Indiana was led by Kelsey Mitchell who tallied 15 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in the effort.
Sun Notes:
- Alyssa Thomas finished with her league-leading 28th double-double of the season with 10 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists and one steal.
- DeWanna Bonner filled the stat sheet with 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks in the win.
- Natisha Hiedeman notched 10 points, going three for six from beyond the arc.
- DiJonai Carrington finished with 10 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal in her return.
- Tonight, Alyssa Thomas moved into first all-time in games played in Connecticut Sun franchise history, tying Nykesha Sales with 278 games played.
- With 10 points in the win, DeWanna Bonner moved into 10th all-time in scoring in Sun history, passing Shannon Johnson (2,054).
- With three three-pointers on the night, Natisha Hiedeman moved into 6th all-time in three-point field goals made in franchise history, tying Jonquel Jones.
- With her 68th double-double in her career, Alyssa Thomas moved into second all-time in double-doubles in Sun history, tying Jonquel Jones.
- Tiffany Hayes tallied her 14th straight game in double-figures which marks the 8th longest active streak in the WNBA.
- Connecticut’s 27th win marks a new franchise record for most wins in a single season.
- The Sun turned up the defense in the win, holding the Fever to 59 points which marks a new season-low for Sun opponents this season.
- The Sun are now 10-0 when five or more players finish in double-figures.
- The Sun are now 5-0 when Natisha Hiedeman tallies at least three three-point field goals.
- The Sun are now 7-0 when holding opponents to under 70 points.
| Team | Score | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | PTS | REB | AST |
| CON | 76 | 26 | 11 | 22 | 17 | Hayes- 14 | Thomas- 14 | Thomas- 8 |
| IND | 59 | 10 | 21 | 13 | 15 | Mitchell- 15 | Boston- 7 | Wheeler- 3 |
NEXT GAME: The Connecticut Sun close out regular season play on Sunday, September 10 hosting the Chicago Sky at 1:00 PM ET at Mohegan Sun Arena.