Phoenix Mercury at Connecticut Sun
· Women's National Basketball AssociationRachel Banham hits 8 3-pointers to lead the Connecticut Sun to 96-69 win over Phoenix Mercury
Banham, who was 8 for 11 from behind the arc, matched Shekinna Stricklen's mark. She was one short of the WNBA record.
DeWanna Bonner added 17 points and Brionna Jones had 16 for the Sun (18-5). DiJonai Carrington had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The game saw the return of Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Natasha Cloud. Taurasi (left leg) and Cloud (left knee) missed the team's previous game against Indiana on Friday. Griner injured her right hip in that game.
Taurasi and Griner both are part of the U.S. Olympic team that will start training in Phoenix next week to prepare for the Paris Games.
“I feel great, I feel awesome,” said the 42-year-old Taurasi, who has only played two games this month. “I'm always ready.”
Taurasi finished with six points and six rebounds in 25 minutes.
Kahleah Copper, who also is on the U.S. Olympic team, led the Mercury with 17 points and Griner added 16 for the Mercury (12-12).
The game was tied at 20 after the first quarter with Connecticut recovering from an early nine-point deficit. The Sun then took over in the second behind the play of reserve guard Banham. She hit four 3-pointers and had a nifty pass to Jones for a lay-in that made it 41-33 with 2:53 left in the half.
The Mercury led 48-42 at the break and extended the advantage to 67-51 after three quarters. Phoenix never threatened after that.
UP NEXT
Mercury: head to Washington to play the Mystics in their final game before the Olympic break Tuesday.
Sun: play at New York on Tuesday in their last game before the break.
Regular Season Series
CONN wins series 4-0
Recent Plays
4th 0.0 | End of Game | 69 - 96 | |
4th 0.0 | End of the 4th Quarter | 69 - 96 | |
4th 6.1 | Sophie Cunningham makes free throw 2 of 2 | 69 - 96 | |
4th 6.1 | Sophie Cunningham makes free throw 1 of 2 | 68 - 96 | |
4th 6.1 | Olivia Nelson-Ododa shooting foul | 67 - 96 |
Statistics
PHX | CONN | |
---|---|---|
28-69 | FG | 37-78 |
40.6 | Field Goal % | 47.4 |
7-25 | 3PT | 10-26 |
28.0 | Three Point % | 38.5 |
6-10 | FT | 12-21 |
60.0 | Free Throw % | 57.1 |
33 | Rebounds | 44 |
11 | Offensive Rebounds | 16 |
22 | Defensive Rebounds | 28 |
16 | Assists | 26 |
3 | Steals | 9 |
8 | Blocks | 3 |
15 | Turnovers | 7 |
2 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
17 | Total Turnovers | 7 |
0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
0 | Flagrant Fouls | 1 |
21 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 5 |
1 | Fast Break Points | 9 |
38 | Points in Paint | 38 |
13 | Fouls | 12 |
9 | Largest Lead | 29 |
Game Information
Location: Uncasville, CT
Attendance: 8,910 · Capacity:
2023-24 Eastern Conference Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York | - | 8 | L1 | 0.8 | 32 |
Connecticut | 4 | 12 | W1 | 0.7 | 28 |
Indiana | 12 | 20 | L1 | 0.5 | 20 |
Atlanta | 17 | 25 | W3 | 0.375 | 15 |
Washington | 18 | 26 | W1 | 0.35 | 14 |
Chicago | 19 | 27 | L5 | 0.325 | 13 |
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