The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JONQUEL Jones continues her torrid pace in posting stellar numbers and her performance over the weekend led the Connecticut Sun to their latest win and a .500 win-loss record on the season.

Jones finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, four steals and two assists in the Sun's 98-93 win over the previously undefeated Minnesota Lynx at the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota on Saturday night.

After a slow start to the season at 0-4, the Sun have reeled off four consecutive wins and five of their last six to bring their record to 5-5 on the year.

Jones had her most efficient shooting game of the season - 6-7 from the field - and made both of her three-point attempts in 37 minutes on the floor. She tied her season high with blocks and set a new season high in steals.

With just over seven minutes remaining, Jones gave the Sun the lead for good, with a deep stepback jumper to put Connecticut ahead 81-79. The Sun then went on a run to extend the lead to eight points. The Lynx Maya Moore hit a three to cut the Sun's lead to 96-93 with 21 seconds left to play. Connecticut's Jasmine Thomas missed a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left, but Moore's final 3-point attempt fell short.

Tied at 22 after the first quarter, the Lynx moved ahead by two at the half, 47-45. Connecticut outscored Minnesota by one in the third and six in the final frame.

Jones is having an All-Star calibre season, averaging 15.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. The second-year forward is seeking help from the Bahamian public in her selection bid.

The league's leading rebounder, Jones is on pace to surpass the mark of 398 rebounds set by Tina Charles in 2010.

WNBA All-Star Voting 2017, presented by Verizon, opened Tuesday afternoon. Verizon WNBA All-Star 2017 will be played on Saturday (July 22) at KeyArena, home of the Seattle Storm. The game will be broadcast on ABC at 3:30pm. To vote for Jones, the Bahamian public can take to social media apps Facebook and Twittter and post "#WNBAVote Jonquel Jones" to officially vote for the Grand Bahamian native.

The WNBA will take a three-tier approach to All-Star Voting this year which will include media, WNBA players/coaches and fans. Fan voting, an all-digital programme, will conclude at 9pm on Thursday, July 6. WNBA fans may submit one full ballot each day through WNBA.com (desktop or mobile) or the WNBA App (available on Android and iOS). Fans may also vote for up to 10 players per day on Twitter and Facebook.

In just under two weeks, the leading vote-getters in each conference will be announced Thursday, June 29 on ESPN2 as Jones and the Sun take on the Seattle Storm.

All-Star starters will then be announced live on ESPN July 11 during the noon edition of Sportscenter. WNBA head coaches will select reserves for both conferences, which will be announced July 18, live on ESPN2.