Sun find a way to end their slide

Four-game losing streak comes to an end as they pull away for win

Indianapolis — Just when it looked like things were unraveling for the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, they got help from two unlikely sources. Reserves Rachel Banham and Brionna Jones both had career nights to help Connecticut break the game open in the fourth quarter and beat the Indiana Fever, 87-78, before 5,458 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Sun (8-5) had lost four in a row. Connecticut was trying to fend off one-win Indiana after three quarters and led, 62-60.

Starting posts Jonquel Jones and Chiney Ogwumike were on the Sun bench in foul trouble. Fellow starters Shekinna Stricklen and Jasmine Thomas were both there with them. So was starter Alyssa Thomas, who missing her fourth straight game to a shoulder injury.

Jones, a second-year post who averages 11.5 minutes, had to play a team-high 31:10 in place of Jonquel Jones.

Brionna Jones finished with a career-high 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Banham, a third-year guard who averages 10.6 minutes, made a career-high five 3-pointers (on five attempts) and scored a career-high 20.

“The bench had a really, really good night,” Connecticut head coach Curt Miller said. “Tough night for Jonquel Jones. She was in foul trouble from the beginning. (We) just never could get her on track, so the play of Brionna Jones was huge tonight.”

Banham and Jones had three fewer points than the Sun's starters (41).

“We moved the ball, made extra passes tonight, which we haven't through this losing streak,” Miller said. “When it was starting to work, there was an

emphasis to get the ball inside. A lot of that goes to our players passing up some good shots to get a better shot, and then Brionna Jones having a big night.”

Indiana's Candice Dupree, when asked if the Sun's bench scoring surprised her, said, “It shouldn't have been a surprise. We went over the scout. We know that Banham is a shooter. She was 5-for-5 from the three. Something like that can't happen. I think she got a lot of threes just off of too much dribble penetration. We weren't able to contain the side pick and rolls.

“(Brionna) Jones, they just kept isolating her on the block, and it's hard to play defense when we're undersized one-on-one. We have to do a better job of helping (center Natalie Achonwa) out.”

Courtney Williams scored 12 of her 14 in the third quarter and added nine rebounds and five assists for the Sun. Oguwmike had 13 points and nine rebounds. She was called for her fifth foul with less than a minute left in the third quarter.

Jonquel Jones struggled with fouls again as she had four in just 7:41. She fouled out in just 16:52 during Friday night's 75-70 loss at the Atlanta Dream.

Connecticut began the day leading the league in fouls. It was called for 23 on Sunday to the Fever's 18.

Dupree had 15 points and eight rebounds for Indiana (1-13), which had its entire starting lineup score in double figures.

Banham opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to give Connecticut a 65-60 lead.

Erica Wheeler's layup got Indiana back within three points. Williams answered with a 16-foot jump shot.

Alex Bentley followed with a steal with Achonwa being called for a clear path foul. Bentley made the second of two free throws. Jones them put back her own miss and converted a threepoint player less than a minute later.

Banham's 3-pointer gave Connecticut a 78-64 lead with 5:51 remaining.

“It's definitely a good win to get back on track after our little slide that we had,” Jones said. “I think this is going to give us energy that we need to move forward, especially going into a tough game (at) Washington (on Tuesday).”