Olivia Nelson-Ododa recorded 18 points and 11 rebounds to fuel the Connecticut Sun to an 85-77 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday in Boston.
Nelson-Ododa made 7 of 11 shots on Tuesday, three days after going 7-for-9 from the floor to finish with a season-high 21 points in Connecticut’s 82-75 setback to the New York Liberty.
Kennedy Burke scored all 17 of her points in the second half for the Sun (9-25), who shot 50.7% from the floor to defeat the Sparks for the second time in as many meetings this season. Connecticut posted an 84-81 victory over Los Angeles on May 30.
The Sun seized control of Tuesday’s game during the third quarter, during which they outscored their foes by a 26-15 margin.
Diamond Miller scored 13 points and reserve Saniya Rivers added 11 to help Connecticut overcome the absences of Brittney Griner (left knee) and Aaliyah Edwards (left ankle).
Rae Burrell scored 19 points and Nneka Ogwumike added 18 for the Sparks (12-23), who made just 2 of 16 shots from 3-point range en route to losing their fifth game in a row.
Dearica Hamby contributed 15 points for the visitors.
The Sun were nursing a 46-40 lead at halftime before scoring the first 10 points in the third quarter. Nelson-Ododa converted a three-point play to begin the sequence before capping it with a layup.
Burke made a trio of 3-pointers and Connecticut’s transition play helped push the team’s lead to 72-53 late in the third quarter.
Two layups and a step-back jumper increased the Sun’s advantage to 21 points early in the fourth. Los Angeles slowly began to cut into its deficit before running out of time.
Nelson-Ododa scored eight points and Miller added seven to help Connecticut claim a 27-20 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Rivers converted a layup to extend the Sun’s lead to 32-22 early in the second quarter.
Connecticut’s Leila Lacan led all players with 10 assists as she and backcourt mate Charlisse Leger-Walker combined to record 16 assists and only four turnovers.
–Field Level Media
