DeWanna Bonner had 22 points to lead four Connecticut starters in double figures in the Sun’s 80-74 win Sunday against the Dallas Wings in Uncasville, Conn.
Brionna Jones added 21 points, Tiffany Hayes scored 17 and Alyssa Thomas posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds as the Sun (6-1) won their third straight game.
Bonner opened up the second half with a 3-pointer, the 500th of her career, extending the Sun’s lead to 47-30.
The Wings (3-3) got as close as 78-74 with nine seconds left, but Hayes made two free throws to account for the final margin.
Dallas lost its second in a row despite the fourth double-double of the year from Satou Sabally, who tallied 26 points and 14 rebounds.
Crystal Dangerfield scored 13 but exited with 3:27 left in the third. She hurt her ankle while coming down after making a shot in the lane that cut Connecticut’s lead to 60-52.
Natasha Howard hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points and Veronica Burton added 10 for the Wings.
The Sun dominated the opening quarter, capitalizing on a 19-5 run fueled by Bonner’s eight first-quarter points.
Bonner highlighted that early scoring outburst with a 3-pointer from the corner despite being fouled. She made the free throw to put Connecticut ahead 17-8. The Sun led 23-13 after one.
The Sun went up by 14 points with 8:01 left in the half when DiJonai Carrington scored in transition on a long pass down the court from Tyasha Harris. The Sun led 44-30 at halftime.
Connecticut led by as many as 17 and took advantage of solid play in the paint to hold off a late rally attempt by the Wings, outscoring Dallas 40-22 inside.
–Field Level Media
