Phoenix — The Connecticut Sun has rallied from big deficits throughout the season, so it was no surprise that it happened again at Talking Stick Resort Arena Thursday night against the Phoenix Mercury.
Down by as many as 15, and plagued by foul trouble throughout the night, the Sun battled back to within one point twice in the closing minutes before eventually falling 84-77.
Chiney Ogwumike, Rachel Banham and Jasmine Thomas each had 11 points while Alex Bentley scored 10 off the bench. Lexie Brown had a career night, finishing with nine points on three made threes. Brionna Jones had seven rebounds (five offensive) to lead the team.
The Sun (10-8) were trailing 70-57 at the start of the fourth quarter when Thomas hit a three to spark a 15-3 run. Brown hit two huge threes in that stretch while Jones and Morgan Tuck had put-backs in traffic.
Tuck’s score made it 73-72 with 4:16 left, and Jones cut the Mercury deficit to 75-74 with 3:45 remaining.
But DeWanna Bonner hit a three to make it 78-74, and the Sun could not get closer than three the rest of the night.
The Sun were outscored 24-12 at the free throw line, and Ogwumike, Brionna Jones and Jonquel Jones all had three fouls in the first half.
Diana Taurasi (25 points, five rebounds, four assists) and Brittney Griner (23 points, six rebounds, three blocks) led the Mercury (14-5).
Connecticut post players were in foul trouble for most of the first half, which ended with Phoenix leading 50-41. But Connecticut held the Mercury to 10 made field goals in the second half while staging their comeback.
Connecticut finishes this road trip at Las Vegas on July 7th. Game time is set for 10 p.m. ET.