Taj McWilliams-Franklin loses coaching debut as Wings suffer 9th straight defeat

Aug 15, 2018, 05:19 am

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Jonquel Jones had 27 points and 10 rebounds, and the Connecticut Sun beat the Dallas Wings 96-76 on Tuesday night to spoil the head coaching debut of Taj McWilliams-Franklin.

McWilliams-Franklin was named interim coach Sunday after Fred Williams was fired.

Connecticut (19-13) has won seven of eight and is fourth in the playoff standings.

Chiney Ogwumike had 13 points for the Sun and Morgan Tuck had 12. Jones was 4 of 6 from 3-point range in her second straight double-double.

Jones scored 16 points in the first half to help Connecticut build a 50-38 lead. The Sun's reserves had 44 points at intermission.

Allisha Gray scored 18 points for Dallas (14-18), and Skylar Diggins-Smith had 17 points and eight assists. The Wings have lost nine straight games, jeopardizing a playoff spot that once seemed secure.

Elizabeth Cambage returned after missing two games because of a neck injury and scored 15 points for Dallas. Glory Johnson departed with 1:12 left in the first quarter and did not return.