Jones gets key block, Connecticut holds off Fever 81-78
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- — Tiffany Hayes scored 22 points, Brionna Jones had 19 points and 11 rebounds and the Connecticut Sun held off the Indiana Fever 81-78 on Tuesday night.
Rookie Aliyah Boston made her first career 3-pointer to pull Indiana within 79-76 with 48.1 seconds left. After a timeout, DeWanna Bonner missed a contested layup and Indiana raced the other way, but Jones blocked a shot at the rim. Indiana retained possession and Boston made a putback to make it 79-78.
Hayes was fouled with 9.4 seconds left and made two free throws for a three-point lead. Indiana found Lexie Hull open in the corner for a potential tying shot but her 3-pointer came up short.
Alyssa Thomas added 13 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists and Natisha Hiedeman scored 11 for Connecticut (4-1). Bonner, who started the second half after accidentally getting hit in the face before halftime, finished with eight points and five assists.
Hayes scored a season-high 18 points, on 7-of-9 shooting, to help Connecticut build a 38-34 halftime lead. The Sun led 22-14 after the first quarter but only scored two points in the opening six minutes of the second to trail 26-24.
Boston finished with 20 points and Kelsey Mitchell added 19 points for Indiana (1-3). NaLyssa Smith had 14 points and 15 rebounds. The Fever ended a WNBA record-tying 20-game losing streak with a victory in their last game.
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Regular Season Series
CONN leads 2-0
Game Information
- Referees:
- Gina Cross
- Fatou Cissoko-Stephens
- Isaac Barnett
2023-24 Eastern Conference Standings
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | - | W1 |
Connecticut | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.5 | - |
New York | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.5 | - |
Indiana | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1 | L1 |
Washington | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1 | L1 |
Chicago | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1 | L1 |