The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THROUGH two games, Jonquel Jones has looked the part of the breakout star she was projected to be this season, but her Connecticut Sun are still searching for their first win of the year.

Jones finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds - both game highs - in the Sun’s 81-79 loss to the Indiana Fever at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Saturday night.

She shot an efficient 7-11 from the field, was a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line and also dished a game-high four assists.

Despite her effort, the shorthanded Sun squandered an 11-point lead as the Fever ended a streak of four straight losses in home openers to improve to 1-2. The Sun fell to 0-2.

Jones scored her final basket of the game, a layup at the 2:54 mark in the fourth quarter, to give the Sun a 70-66 lead. She would foul out on the ensuing possession and the Sun would be unable to maintain the advantage down the stretch.

The Fever’s Shenise Johnson scored eight of her 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a go-ahead jumper with 46 seconds remaining.

The Sun led 45-40 at halftime and was up 11 in the final minute of the third quarter.

Morgan Tuck’s 3-pointer got the Sun within 76-75 with 16 seconds left but Connecticut was called for a dead-ball foul on Indiana’s inbounds. The Fever converted the free throw and kept possession. They made four free throws down the stretch to the victory.

The Sun, already without starting centre Chiney Ogwumike (out for the season with an Achilles injury), were also without starters Jasmine Thomas (attending brother’s wedding) and Alyssa Thomas (concussion protocol).

Jones is currently averaging 13.5 points and a WNBA-leading 16.5 rebounds per game. Jones finished her rookie campaign for the Sun last year, averaging 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shot in just over 14 minutes per game. She shot 53 per cent from the field and 33 per cent from three-point range.

The Sun will continue to seek their first win of the season when they face the Minnesota Lynx 8pm May 23.

The first segment of the season for the Sun features a lopsided number of road games as the league’s youngest team attempts to end a four-year playoff drought.

Eight of the first 11 (and 12 of the next 18) are road games. The Sun will close out the week in a home and away when they host the Lynx on Friday, May 26.