Sun close out road trip with a 3-0 record
Minneapolis, MN (June 22, 2023)- Tonight, the Connecticut Sun (11-3) defeated the Minnesota Lynx (4-9), 89-68. The 21-point win marks the Sun’s largest margin of victory this season.
The Sun was led by Tiffany Hayes who finished with 21 points, six rebounds, and one assist in 24 minutes of action on the night.
1Q- The Sun opened the contest on a 15-6 run, forcing the Lynx into a timeout with 6:02 remaining in the quarter. Hayes had eight of Connecticut’s 15 points to start the game, going 2-3 from behind the arc. Connecticut finished the quarter on a 12-11 spurt to take a ten-point advantage into the second, 27-17. Hayes led all scorers with 14 points after ten minutes of action.
2Q- Alyssa Thomas started the second with four quick points to extend the Sun’s lead to 14, 31-17, with 7:16 remaining in the half. Minnesota outscored Connecticut, 11-10, the rest of the way, but Connecticut still the 13-point advantage at the break, 41-28. Thomas led the Sun with eight points and two rebounds in the second quarter.
The Sun experienced a bit of foul trouble in the first half with Olivia Nelson-Ododa picking up three personals, while Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, Rebecca Allen and DiJonai Carrington each had two heading into the locker room.
3Q- Connecticut opened the second half on a 12-3 run to take a 52-31 lead over Minnesota with 7:17 remaining in the third. The Sun continued to push pace outscoring the Lynx, 26-15, in the third quarter to take a 67-43 lead into the fourth. Bonner tallied seven of her 11 points in the ten minutes out of the locker room to lead the Sun.
4Q- The Lynx opened the fourth on a 6-3 run to cut the lead to 21, 70-49, with 7:56 remaining in the quarter. The Sun and Lynx each scored 19 points the rest of the way. Carrington closed the game out for Connecticut, tallying 10 of her 17 points in the fourth.
Minnesota was led by Napheesa Collier who tallied 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists and four steals in the effort.
Connecticut shot 45% (27-60) from the field, while holding Minnesota to 31.6% (24-76) from the floor on the night. The Sun outscored the Lynx 11-2 on the fast break and 30-25 from the bench.
Sun Notes:
- The Sun nailed a season-high 12 three-point field goals. They also tied their season-high in blocks with six on the night.
- DiJonai Carrington finished with a season-high 17 points, behind a career-high three three-point field goals.
- With four field goals in tonight’s game, Alyssa Thomas has tied Taj McWilliams-Franklin for third all-time in field goals made in franchise history.
- Liz Dixon and Leigha Brown each tallied their first career points in tonight’s win. Dixon notched two points on a layup, while Brown went 1-2 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
| Team | Score | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | PTS | REB | AST |
| CON | 89 | 27 | 14 | 26 | 22 | Hayes- 21 | Thomas- 9 | Nelson-Ododa- 4 |
| MIN | 68 | 17 | 11 | 15 | 25 | Collier-21 | Collier/Engstler-7 | Allen- 7 |
NEXT GAME: The Connecticut Sun are back home to host the Chicago Sky on Sunday, June 25 at 1:00 PM EST at Mohegan Sun Arena.