Sun use 22-0 run in the third quarter to put Mercury away for good.
Phoenix, AZ (September 13, 2024)- Tonight, the Connecticut Sun (27-10) defeated the Phoenix Mercury (17-20), 88-69, on the road in Phoenix. With the win, the Sun sweep the Mercury for the third time over the last four regular seasons, 4-0. Connecticut also picked up their 27th win this season, tying the franchise’s regular season win record set last season (27-13).
Brionna Jones led Connecticut with 20 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. It marked her fifth 20+ point performance this season and her sixth straight outing scoring at least 17 points. Her 10 field goals in the game matched her season high set on May 31 against Dallas.
Marina Mabrey notched 19 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 31 minutes off the bench in the game. The outing marked her 11th double-digit performance out of her 13 games with the Sun thus far. The Sun are now 8-3 when Mabrey finishes with 10+ points.
DeWanna Bonner tallied 14 points, four rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes played, while Ty Harris rounded out the Sun’s double-digit scorers with 12 points, four rebounds and two assists. The outing marked Harris’ first 10+ point performance since September 1 against Seattle.
The Sun shot 44% (33-75) from the field, while holding the Mercury to 37.5% (27-72) in the game. Connecticut held the advantage in the paint (40-34), in second chance points (11-4), in fast break opportunities (9-6) and from the bench (27-12).
Brittney Griner led the Mercury with 26 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Natasha Cloud added 17 points, four rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one block in the game.
Game Runs:
1H: The Sun led by as many as seven in the first quarter but held a five-point lead heading into the second, 22-17. A 12-8 start to the second pushed the Sun’s lead to nine, 34-25, with 6:14 to play in the half. Connecticut led by as many as 11, 38-27, with 4:17 to play in the second, but Phoenix closed the first half on a 12-8 run to cut the Sun’s lead to eight, 46-38, heading into the locker room.
2H: The Sun opened the third quarter on an 8-4 run to push their advantage to 12, 54-42, with 4:47 to go in the third. Connecticut rattled off 12 unanswered to take a 24-point lead, 66-42, forcing Phoenix into a timeout with 1:46 to play in the quarter. The Sun outscored the Mercury, 24-6, in the third quarter to take a 26-point lead into the fourth. Phoenix began the fourth on a 11-7 run to cut Connecticut’s lead to 20, 77-57, with 7:27 to go in the game. The Mercury outscored the Sun, 25-18, in the final frame, but the Sun were able to take home the 88-69 victory.
Notes:
- The Mercury’s six third-quarter points mark the lowest point-production in a single quarter for any Sun opponent this season.
- After tonight’s game, DeWanna Bonner is now tied with Delisha Milton-Jones for third all-time in games played in WNBA history (499).
- Tonight marked Alyssa Thomas’ ninth game finishing with 10+ assists, as she went for seven points, three rebounds, 11 assists and one block in the win. The Sun are now 9-0 when she dishes 10+ assists.
- Connecticut committed just eight turnovers in the game, resulting in just two Phoenix points.
- The two teams combined for 12 blocks- the Sun notched five, while the Mercury swatted seven in the game.
- First Quarter Notes:
- Ty Harris notched eight of her 12 points in the first.
- DiJonai Carrington grabbed six of her nine rebounds in the first.
- The Sun forced the Mercury into six first quarter turnovers, resulting into 10 points for Connecticut.
- Second Quarter Notes:
- Marina Mabrey tallied eight of her 19 points in the second.
- Brionna Jones grabbed six of her nine rebounds in the second.
- The Sun shot 52.9% (9/17) in the second quarter, while holding the Mercury to 42.1% (8/19).
- Third Quarter Notes:
- The Sun held the Mercury to just 15% (3/20) from the floor in the ten minutes coming out of the locker room.
- DeWanna Bonner scored nine of her 14 points in the third.
- Alyssa Thomas recorded five of her 11 assists in the third.
- Fourth Quarter Notes:
- The Sun’s bench accounted for nine of the team’s 18 fourth quarter points.
- Five of the Sun’s 18 fourth quarter points came from the free-throw line.
| Team | Score | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | PTS | REB | AST |
| CON | 88 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 18 | Jones- 20 | Jones/Carrington-9 | Thomas- 11 |
| PHO | 69 | 17 | 21 | 6 | 25 | Griner- 26 | Griner- 9 | Cloud- 7 |
NEXT GAME: The Connecticut Sun play their final regular season road game against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, September 15 at 6:00 PM ET/3:00 PM PT at Michelob Ultra Arena.