Connecticut Sun Snap Five-Game Losing Streak with Thrilling 85-83 Win over Indiana Fever
In a nail-biting encounter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Connecticut Sun secured their first win of the season, edging out the short-handed Indiana Fever 85-83 on Friday night. According to a report by Yahoo Sports, Marina Mabrey led the charge for the Sun, scoring 15 of her 26 points in the third quarter.
The Sun’s victory marked a significant turnaround for the team, which had been struggling to find their footing in the early stages of the season. The win snapped a five-game losing streak, and provided a much-needed boost to the team’s morale. As noted by Yahoo Sports, Mabrey’s impressive performance was instrumental in securing the win, with the guard scoring a total of 26 points.
The Fever, meanwhile, were without their star player Caitlin Clark, who missed her second consecutive game due to a strained left quad. Clark suffered the injury while playing against the New York Liberty on Saturday. Her absence was keenly felt by the Fever, who struggled to find their rhythm against a determined Sun side.
The game itself was a closely contested affair, with the Sun building a 74-59 lead early in the fourth quarter. However, the Fever staged a remarkable comeback, scoring 16 straight points to take the lead. As Yahoo Sports reported, Indiana used a 19-2 run to take the lead, with Lexie Hull’s corner three-pointer pulling the Fever within 82-81.
In the end, it was the Sun’s rookie player Saniya Rivers who proved to be the difference-maker. Rivers went 1 of 2 at the free-throw line with 5.8 seconds left, giving the Sun an 85-83 lead. The Fever had one final chance to win the game, but Kelsey Mitchell’s corner three-pointer at the buzzer was well short, with Tina Charles providing solid defence.
The win for the Sun was a team effort, with Tina Charles adding 18 points to the team’s tally. Rivers, meanwhile, finished with 12 points and six assists. For the Fever, Aliyah Boston had 17 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, while Mitchell and Bonner finished with 13 points apiece.
In other news, the New York Liberty continued their impressive start to the season, beating the Washington Mystics 85-63. According to Yahoo Sports, Sabrina Ionescu hit four three-pointers and finished with 28 points, while Jonquel Jones had 14 points and 18 rebounds. The Liberty’s win marked their sixth consecutive victory, and sees them sit atop the league table.
The Associated Press reports that the Liberty’s victory was a convincing one, with the team dominating the Mystics in both offence and defence. As noted by Yahoo Sports, the Mystics struggled with scoring droughts in the third and fourth quarters, and ultimately finished with a dismal 28% shooting percentage from the field.
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