DeWanna Bonner cranked in a career-high 41 points as the Connecticut Sun handed the visiting Las Vegas Aces their first loss of the season with a 94-77 decision Thursday night in Uncasville, Conn.
Bonner made 16 of 23 shots from the field, aided by 5-for-7 shooting on 3-pointers. When she reached the 36-point mark, she set a Connecticut franchise single-game scoring record.
This was a rematch of two nights earlier, as well as a clash between the teams that met in last year’s WNBA Finals and hold the best records in the league so far this season.
Brionna Jones added 12 points and nine rebounds, Tiffany Hayes supplied 11 points, and Alyssa Thomas had nine points and 12 assists for the Sun (7-2), who shot 52.9 percent from the field. That included 8-for-14 shooting on 3s.
Las Vegas won 90-84 on Tuesday night in the first clash of the week.
Kelsey Plum’s 16 points led Las Vegas (7-1), which ended up with 16 turnovers. A’ja Wilson had 13 points, Chelsea Gray posted 12 and Jackie Young provided 10.
The Aces scored 49 second-half points but failed to contain the Sun — and primarily Bonner, who also pulled in seven rebounds.
Las Vegas, which had trailed by 15 at the half and 19 early in the third quarter, was within 64-52 entering the fourth. Bonner struck for five points in the first 1:38 of the quarter as the Sun pulled away.
Bonner was held to five points in 24 minutes in Tuesday’s game. Rebecca Allen, who poured in 22 points off the Connecticut bench in the first meeting, was held to five points — all in the second half.
Bonner scored 18 of Connecticut’s first 34 points midway through the second quarter. At that point, she was 8-for-10 from the field with two 3-point baskets.
The Sun were up 43-28 at halftime, buoyed by 50 percent shooting. The Aces shot 36 percent in the opening half and committed 11 turnovers.
–Field Level Media
