Connecticut guard Courtney Williams posted season highs of 20 points and eight rebounds against the Atlanta Dream, her former team, in the Sun’s 105-92 victory on Wednesday in Uncasville, Conn.
Connecticut (11-4) improved to 5-1 in its past six games.
The Sun made 14 of 26 attempts from 3-point range against an Atlanta team that entered with the WNBA’s top defensive rating of 91.1 (points allowed every 100 possessions).
Williams made 8 of 12 shots from the field, 2 of 3 from 3-point range.
Connecticut’s Natisha Hiedeman had 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, including 3-of-6 success from beyond the arc.
Jonquel Jones, a Sun post player, made 3 of 5 shots from 3-point range and finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Connecticut shot 51.9 percent from the field, 53.8 percent from beyond the arc.
The Dream (7-7) lost their third straight game, all on the road, without numerous players who are sidelined because of injuries and illness.
Nia Coffey’s absence in the second half contributed to the problem. She did not return after scoring six points in the first half, as she exited with an undisclosed injury.
Tiffany Hayes (right knee) and Erica Wheeler (left foot) are out indefinitely. Kia Vaughn missed the game because of health and safety protocol.
Aari McDonald started for the second consecutive game in place of Wheeler, and she finished with 19 points, five assists and three steals. Recently acquired guard AD Durr led the Dream with 21 points, and Rhyne Howard had 14 points.
Atlanta also signed former Las Vegas Aces guard Destiny Slocum to a hardship contract on Wednesday. Slocum played as a backup to McDonald and finished with four points and two assists.
Connecticut started to take control early, scoring 10 unanswered points to establish a 27-14 lead with 2:43 remaining in the first quarter.
Williams had 11 points in the first quarter on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, including a made 3-pointer on her lone attempt.
After Atlanta cut the deficit to 31-24 in the first minute of the second quarter, Connecticut pulled away again with a 10-2 run that was capped by a DiJonai Carrington 3-pointer.
Connecticut tied a franchise record with 10 made 3-pointers in the first half en route to a season-high 58 points in a half.
The Sun led by as many as 29 points before pulling their starters early in the fourth quarter.
–Field Level Media