Sun Split Opening Two-Game Road Trip, Ready For Home Opener

Chiney Ogwumike (WNBA – Getty Images)

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The Connecticut Sun closed out a season-opening, two-game road trip, May 19, with a hard-fought 72-68 win over the San Antonio Stars.

Nine-year WNBA veteran Camille Little had an impressive 2016 debut, after returning from a stint in the Italian League, leading the Sun with 13 points and 6 boards.

Alyssa Thomas added 12 points, eight rebounds five assists and four steals in a superb all-around effort.

Kelsey Bone and Jasmine Thomas chipped in with 12 apiece.

The win was the first of the season for the Sun who struggled in the May 14 opener, losing to the Chicago Sky 90-73.

“I loved our fight,” said Sun Coach Curt Miller, who picked up his first WNBA coaching win.

WNBA rookie and former UConn All-American Moriah Jefferson had 10 points and seven assists for San Antonio (0-2).

Connecticut held a 25-17 lead at the end of the first quarter and took a 39-36 lead at the half.

The team’s battled back-and-forth in the second half.

The Sun’s Jasmine Thomas iced the game with a pair of free throws in the final 20 seconds.

The Sun shot a reasonable 41.8% (28 for 67) from the field and held a slight edge on the boards (33 to 32).

The Sun will kick-off the home portion of the 2016 season, May 21, at Mohegan Sun Arena, hosting the Washington Mystics (0-2) at 7 p.m.

Washington lost to Dallas (87-77) and the New York Liberty 87-76.

The Mystics will be without the services of All-Star point guard Ivory Latta (knee).

The Sun will have their hands full in the paint defending Stefanie Dolson and Emma Meesseman.

SUN SPOTS

Chiney Ogwumike is cautiously working her way back into the Sun lineup.

Against San Antonio, the Stanford graduate, had 9 points (3-for-4 from the field) in just over 13 minutes of action.

She ran the court well and appears ready to elevate her game to the next level.

Top draft pick Morgan Tuck did not score in three minutes of action against the Stars.

Mystics All-Star center Stefanie Dolson has a feature story in the May 23 issue of ESPN Magazine.

The Los Angeles Sparks and Candace Parker come to Mohegan Sun Arena on May 26 (7 p.m.).

Parker will be playing with a chip on her shoulder this season having been omitted from this year’s US Olympic team.

The Sparks thumped Seattle in their opener 96-66 behind Parker’s 34 points and five boards.

Did you know?

Sun CEO and Columbia alum, Mitchell Etess, is beginning his 14^th year with the organization.

Sun coach Curt Miller served as an LA Sparks assistant last year under coach Brian Alger.

Connecticut point guard Alex Bentley (Penn State) was just the fourth player in Big Ten history to amass 1,500 points, 500 assists and 300 steals in a career. Others in the elite club include WNBA vets Katie Smith and Tamara Moore.

Team USA will be looking for a sixth-consecutive Olympic Basketball title this year in Rio.

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