Sun Eliminate The Fever – Best Road Win of the Season

Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas. (Chuck Myers, MCT)

The Connecticut Sun picked up a much-needed road win when they defeated the Indiana Fever 86-64 in Indianapolis on July 13.

Chiney Ogwumike, who is returning to peak form after sitting out the 2015 season due to knee surgery, led the way for the Sun with a game-high 20 points and eight boards. Alyssa Thomas chipped in with 14 points. Ogwumike had her best shooting performance of the season as she was 5-for-9 from the field and 10-for 12 from the foul stripe.

Veteran Shekinna Stricklen gave the Sun a huge boost off the bench with 11 points (3-for-5 from beyond the arc). Rookie Courtney Williams added 8 points.

As a team, the Sun shot 47.7% from the field (31-for-65) and 73.1% (19-26) from the foul line.

The Fever was led by Lynetta Kizer who poured in 18 points. The Sun did an outstanding defensive job on Tamika Catchings limiting the future Hall-of-Famer to eight points (2-for-10 from the field).

The win improved the Sun to 6-14, while Indiana is now 9-12.

SUN SPOTS

Ogwumike continues to make excellent progress as she saw extended playing time against the Fever. She racked up 28.55 minutes on the court which was second to Jasmine Thomas’s 37.21.

“Chiney is starting to get her bounce back,” said Sun coach Curt Miller. “She is still on restricted minutes but is looking more and more comfortable.”

The Sun’s 22-point margin of victory was a season’s best.

Connecticut’s final home game before they break for the Rio Olympic Games will be against the league-leading LA Sparks (19-1) on July 15 (7 p.m.). After they face Candace Parker and the Sparks, the Sun will hit the road to face New York (7/17), Dallas (7/20) and Chicago (7/22). The Sun will begin the 2016 Rio Olympic Game hiatus on July 23. They will resume the regular season on Aug. 26 at home against Minnesota (7 p.m.)

OLYMPIC SHOWCASE

The 2016 USA Basketball Women’s National Team will host a four team, exhibition tournament on July 29 at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Ct. Australia and France will square off in the first game at 4:30 p.m. Coach Geno Auriemma and Team USA face Canada in the second game (7 p.m.).

Tickets for the exhibition tournament will go on sale starting June 13. For complete details go to: www.USAB.COM/SHOWCASE.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Scotch Plains (NJ) Sydney McLaughlin, who was named the Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year. The award is administered by USA TODAY in collaboration with Gatorade.

McLaughlin, who will be entering her senior year at Union Catholic, became the first American 16-year-old since 1976 to qualify for an Olympic track event. She finished third in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 54.15 which set a new world junior record breaking her own record of 54.46.

The Seattle Storm’s and former UConn All American Breanna Stewart was named Best Female Athlete at the 2016 ESPY Awards.

A FINAL THOUGHT

When will this stop? Mississippi State and their football program have allowed a five-star recruit on campus, Jeffrey Simmons, after an episode which records Simmons punching a woman.

Punishment – a one game suspension – ridiculous!!!

Follow Bob on Twitter for all the Sun and WNBA news: @WhitneyBob