Uncasville – It did not take long for Connecticut Sun forward Morgan Tuck to begin making up for lost time.
After missing the last eight games of her rookie season with a knee injury suffered at Atlanta on August 28th, Tuck opened the 2017 regular season with a career-high 21 points during an 81-74 loss to the Dream on Saturday night. In the process, Tuck tied a career high with three made three-pointers.
“I thought she was in attack mode most of the evening,” Connecticut Sun head coach and general manager Curt Miller said. “She stepped up and made threes when she had to. She attacked and drove. I think she’s as disappointed as anyone that we missed some shots around the rim. But a great game. It could have been a monster game. Look for her just to be better and better.”
Last season, Tuck appeared in 26 games with three starts. The third overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft, she scored in double figures six times, including a career-high 20 points against former UConn teammate Breanna Stewart and the Seattle Storm last June 10th.
But her rookie season ended prematurely in Atlanta, and she had surgery to repair cartilage damage in September. After a long offseason of rehabilitation, Tuck looks ready to help fill the void left by the absence of Chiney Ogwumike, who will miss the 2017 season with an Achilles tendon injury. Tuck had 20 points in Connecticut’s last preseason game, a 79-57 win at New York on May 7th, and followed up with a strong effort on Saturday.
“It felt really good, just to be out there in a real game,” Tuck said after practice on Monday. “I didn’t finish very well inside, but outside I shot pretty well.”
Tuck felt movement was a big key on Saturday.
“Just being active,” she said. “I think that’s something I tried to focus on. Not ever just standing. I think my teammates did a great job of getting me the ball when I was open.”
While there were plenty of bright spots Saturday, the final result was still a loss. Tuck cited two obvious areas where the team will need to be better at Indiana on Saturday.
“I think having two really good defensive halves,” Tuck said. “I think the second half we played really good defense. I think the first half, we had too many fouls. I think if we can put two halves together…and then just make shots. For me and a lot of the post, shots we missed right around the basket, we just have to take our time and finish those and then we will win some games.”
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