Photo: “Sylvia Fowles and Jonquel Jones look for a rebound” by Lorie Shaull is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
On Tuesday night, the Connecticut Sun defeated the Indiana Fever 88-77 at the Mohegan Sun Arena which the team did by succeeding at the fundamentals of basketball. The Sun did an outstanding job at the free throw line and out rebounding the Fever.
Connecticut went to the free throw line often in this game which the team capitalized on as they went 63.6% (14-22) from the line. Indiana had 24 personal fouls in this game.
The Sun also had the advantage in rebounds as the team had 37 and the Fever had 26. Connecticut’s defense limited the Fever’s opportunities for another shot after a miss with Indiana only having five offensive rebounds for the game.
The Sun would use the three point shot a lot in this game as they went 45.5% (10-22) in the game. The Fever went 31.3% ( 5-16) at three point line in the game.
Connecticut would also have the advantage in blocked shots as the team had four and Indiana had two.
The Fever did excel in several areas in this game which includes assists (21-18), won the turnover battle (11-12) and steals (5-4).
Indiana also had two advantages in shooting as well, the team shot 48.6% (35-72) and the Sun shot 45.7% (32-70). The Fever also shot 66.7% (2-3) at three point line and Connecticut shot 63.6% (14-22).
The leading scorer for the Sun in the game was center Jonquel Jones with 25 points.
Point guard Jasmine Thomas (15) and shooting guard Courtney Williams (13) also hit double digits in points for the Sun.
The leading scorer for the Fever in the game was point guard Erica Wheeler with 26 points.
Small forward Candice Dupree (20) and center Natalie Achonwa (10) also hit double digits in points for Indiana.
Fever Was Hitting All The Right Shots To Hold Slim Lead In 1st Qtr
In the first quarter, the Fever did not miss many shots as the team shot 58.8 % (10-17).
The Sun struggled in the first quarter with their shooting, as the team went 30.4 % (7-23) in the quarter.
The quarter started with the Sun going on 7-2 run which was helped by small forward Shekinna Stricklen’s made three point shot at the 8:39 minute mark.
The Fever answered right back with a 7-0 run of their own which gave the team a 9-7 lead with 6:57 left in the first quarter.
The next couple of minutes, the lead would change on every other possession as the two teams battled it out.
Starting at the 2:44 minute mark, Indiana would outscore Connecticut 10-5 to end the quarter with a 23-21 lead.
Sun’s Shooting Starts To Sizzle In Second Qtr To End With Halftime Lead
In the second quarter, the Sun shooting percentage improved as the team shot 57.1 % (8-14).
The Fever struggled in the second quarter with their shooting, as the team shot 35.0 % (7-20).
The quarter started with Connecticut’s Bria Holmes hitting a pull up jump shot to tie the game at 23 with 08:59 left in the half. Holmes would hit a follow up shot which would give the Sun a 25-23 lead with 8:33 left in the half.
Connecticut’s lead did not last long though as the Fever would go on a 6-1 run which gave Indiana a 29-26 lead with 06:34 left in the half.
The Sun would outscore the Fever 14-11 the rest of half which included Jonquel Jones three pointer with 44 seconds left. The Sun would take a 40-37 lead into the half over the Fever.
The Sun Continue To Outscore Fever To Keep Lead In 3rd Qtr
In the third quarter, Connecticut did not have the smoothness of shooting the team had in the second as they shot 43.8 % (7-16).
The Fever improved their shooting in the third quarter, as the team shot 41.2 % (7-17).
The Sun started the quarter by going on a 7-2 run which had a three pointer from point guard Jasmine Thomas. The 7-2 run gave Connecticut a 47-39 lead with 7:34 left in third quarter.
Around the 3:37 minute mark, the Sun really started to sizzle as the team hit three straight shots from the three point line on their 11-2 run which gave Connecticut a 61-46 lead with 2:01 left in the quarter.
The Sun would end the quarter with a 62-52 lead over the Fever.
Sun’s Finish Off The Fever In The Fourth Qtr
In the fourth quarter, the Sun finished strong in terms of shooting, as the team shot 58.8 % (10-17).
The Fever shot their best all game in the fourth quarter, as the team shot 61.1 % (11-18).
The Sun would outscore the Fever 26-25 in the quarter which includes 11-9 run at the end of the quarter. The Sun would take home a 88-77 win to give them a 2-0 record to start the season.
Outside the First State 