Recap: Sun win franchise-record 13th straight behind dominant second half

The Connecticut Sun absolutely dominated the second half against the New York Liberty on Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. en route to a 98-69 victory, a franchise-record 13th in a row and the team’s first this season with the services of Alyssa Thomas, who returned early from a torn Achilles.

After losing the first half 47-44, the Sun (25-6) won the last two frames by a combined score of 54-22. MVP frontrunner Jonquel Jones was the star of the game with 18 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Thomas finished with six points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal in 16 minutes and 37 seconds off the bench.

Natasha Howard posted 25 points, eight boards, three helpers, two steals and three blocks for New York, but both she and teammate Sabrina Ionescu had nine turnovers. The Liberty had 28 as a team and were outrebounded 38-21.

DeWanna Bonner matched J. Jones with 18 points to go along with four assists and two steals. Brionna Jones added 13 points, seven boards and three helpers, Natisha Hiedeman was good for 11 points, five assists and two steals, rookie DiJonai Carrington recorded a season-high 14 points to along with three steals and Jasmine Thomas had 10 points and three steals. Hiedeman and J, Thomas combined to shoot 5-of-7 from beyond the arc the night after their engagement was announced.

With the loss, the Liberty fell to 11-20. They now need to defeat the Washington Mystics on Friday, see the Mystics lose to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday snd see the Los Angeles Sparks lose at least one of their two remaining games in order to make the playoffs.