The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JONQUEL Jones posted her second double-digit scoring effort in three games, but her Connecticut Sun lost yet another close finish.

Jones finished with 16 points and six rebounds in the Sun's 80-78 loss to the Minnesota Lynx Tuesday at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota.

She shot 7-10 from the field and added a blocked shot in just over 23 minutes as the Sun fell to 0-3 while the Lynx remained undefeated in 4-0.

At 14.3 points and 12.7 rebounds per game, Jones is one of only two players in the WNBA to average a double-double, and went head-to-head with the other last night, the Lynx's Sylvia Fowles.

Fowles finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals and five blocks.

The Sun took advantage of a slow start for the Lynx and forced 13 turnovers in the first half alone. Those turnovers led to fastbreak points and open threes as the Sun led 20-18 at the end of the first quarter and 37-35 at the half.

The Lynx took control in the second half and finished the third quarter on a 21-8 run to take command. They won the period 27-17 and took a 62-54 lead into the fourth. The Lynx controlled most of the fourth but, after several turnovers and missed opportunities at the line, the Sun had an opportunity to tie. The Sun's Morgan Tuck made a three and after a pair of missed free throws by Minnesota's Lindsay Whalen, the Lynx were able to keep possession until 2.2 seconds remained on the clock.

Minnesota has won 21 straight games in the month of May since 2012. The teams will close out the week in the second game of the series, but this time the Sun will host the Lynx on Friday, May 26.

The Sun, still without starting centre Chiney Ogwumike (out for the season with an Achilles injury), saw the return of Jasmine Thomas and Alyssa Thomas.

Projected in WNBA.com preseason's GM Survey to be this year's breakout player, Jones has garnered the attention of teammates and opposing players.

Sun guard Alex Bentley heralded Jones' promise.

"She has the size, she has the talent, she has it all," Bentley said to Jim Fuller of New Haven Register. "She is doing great now, but you all haven't seen nothing yet so watch."

Lynx star and former WNBA MVP, Maya Moore, said Jone's versatility makes her a threat.

"She uses her size to get shots off and she goes, gets those o-boards," she said. "She is dangerous by the rim and she is really embracing that with how she is crashing the offensive glass. We have to be super mindful of her because she is being super intentional about getting those boards."

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.

"I am happy that they are trusting me to make plays," Jones said. "I just want to be able to be there for my team. We have great scorers and the team doesn't necessarily need me to score double digits every game but I can get on the boards and (play solid defence) so if I can get those things done, I put them in a position to be successful."