Photo by (Associated press)
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Uncasville- After losing Tuesday night, the Connecticut Sun knew they had to be the ones who had to come out aggressively and set the tone. Dijonai Carrington said in pregame “We have a lot of fight, it’s about heart and it’s going to be about doing all the little the things”.
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The buzzer goes off, and its game time. Aces start the ball game off with a turnover and Dewanna Bonner gets the first bucket. A steal from Alyssa Thomas led to a shifty move from Natisha Hiedeman to the basket for a nice layup, Sun leading 10-6. Shot clock violation led to a jumper by DB, official timeout called with 443 to go in the first. You hear fans yelling that’s how we do baby. The Sun defense has caused 3 turnovers and 2 steals. Bang Dewanna Bonner Knocks down a three, shot missed by Aja Wilson and Bang DB knocks down another three and turns the crowd screaming come on let’s go! With the shot coach Becky Hammond calls a timeout, Sun was up 18-8. Chelsea Gray gets an easy layup to stop the bleeding. Natisha Hiedeman scores another bucket right off glass. At the end of quarter 1 Sun was leading 26-15, outscoring the Aces in the paint 14-6 and Dewanna Bonner had scored 14pts.
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The Aces started the second quarter on a 5-0 run, and quick timeout by the Sun. The Connecticut Sun had their hands everywhere causing deflections and steals. Chelsea Gray scored a three bringing the Aces within 12 (28-40), and coach White called a timeout with 36.7 seconds left in the half. Sun had the ball and from behind the strip Swaggy Knocks it down. At the half Connecticut Sun led 43-28 shooting 50% from the field, on the glass 20-12, moving the ball 14-6 and points in the paint 20-8. Dewanna Bonner had 18pts, 4rebs, Natisha Hiedman 9pts.
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It’s the start of the third, and Bri Jones starts off with a nice easy bucket at the rim. It just seemed like from the start the Sun was walking away with this win for sure, full team effort. The Aces kept fighting and found themselves within 10points in that fourth quarter, but Dewanna Bonner felt the basketball all game long. She went 6-6 from the floor and 2-2 from the line. She set an individual record of scoring 17pts in that quarter. The Sun won the game 94-77. Dewanna Bonner finished with career high 41 pts, 7rebs, 1ast, and 1stl, Tiffany Hayes added 11pts, 3rebs, 5ast, 3stl, 1blk. The Sun shot a season high 52.9% from the field and held Las Vegas Aces to 46.7% from the field. High scores for the Aces were Kelsey Plum 16pts, 3ast, 2 Rebs and Chelsea Gray with 12pts, and 2ast.
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Connecticut Sun Coach Stephanie White in post-game “Connected teams are heard to beat”. Next matchup is June 11th, 2023, at 4pm against the Atlanta Dream!
