Jonquel Jones leads Sun past Liberty
Jonquel Jones recorded 17 points and 17 rebounds to help the Connecticut Sun roll over the host New York Liberty 71-54 on Sunday.
Jasmine Thomas scored 12 and Briann January added 10 points for the Sun (14-6), who have won six of seven and have the Eastern Conference's best record.
In the final game of the first half of the season for both teams, the Sun dashed the victory hopes of the Liberty (10-11) with a dominant third quarter that featured a 16-0 run. Jones highlighted it with eight points in the span of a minute.
Jones made two 3-pointers during the run, which ended with the Sun holding a 55-31 advantage with 2:02 to play after Thomas hit a jumper.
Connecticut led 55-37 after three quarters, frustrating New York with an effort that showed why the Sun have one of the WNBA's best defensive teams.
New York dropped its second consecutive game despite 16 points from Kylee Shook, who knocked down a career-high four 3-pointers and set a career-high in points in back-to-back games.
Michaela Onyenwere added 12 and Jazmine Jones added 10 but the Liberty were bothered by 16 turnovers that often led to easy baskets for the Sun, who beat New York for the second time this season.
Betnijah Laney made a 3-pointer with 6:31 to play in the first quarter, giving the Liberty their only lead at 8-7. Those were Laney's only points as she was held to single digits for only the second time.
The Sun then went on a 15-4 run that started on a tough turnaround shot by Jones, who drew contact with 6:14 left. Jones made the ensuing free throw for a 10-8 lead.
The Liberty missed nine consecutive shots before Onyenwere hit a 3-pointer to end the drought and cut the Sun lead to 19-8 with 2:31 to play.
The Sun led 22-12 after one, holding the Liberty to their lowest first quarter point total of the season.
Rashanda Gray drilled her first two 3-pointers of the season in the second, her last cutting the Sun lead to 26-18 with 7:18 to play. Connecticut still led 37-28 at halftime.
--Field Level Media
