By FeverBasketball.com Staff

LOUISVILLE – The Indiana Fever led for most of three quarters, but veterans Kelsey Bone and Alex Bentley set the tone to begin a decisive fourth quarter for the Connecticut Sun in a preseason opener for both clubs. Connecticut’s come-from-behind effort produced a 76-68 win over the Fever in Game 1 of the Atlanta Dream Classic at the KFC Yum! Center.

Bone finished with nine points and Bentley eight, but they combined for 10 of Connecticut’s first 12 points in a run to begin the final period. With Indiana clinging to a 57-56 lead, a Bone layup put the Sun into the lead. Bentley followed and Bone made it six straight points as Connecticut led 62-57.

Indiana got within two on a pair of free throws from Shenise Johnson with 7:42 to play, but never got closer. The Sun led by as many as 10 in the final minutes.

“We’re a very young team and obviously we’re disappointed not to win after leading and playing well at times,” said Fever coach Stephanie White.

Discussing the team’s three days of practices and scrimmages, she added, “I saw a lot of positives these three days. I feel good about the direction we’re going.”

The Fever and Sun tipped off their preseason schedules as the opening game of a neutral-site doubleheader hosted by the Atlanta Dream. Atlanta and Washington capped the twinbill.

Rookie Chelsea Gray led Connecticut with 13 points and her former Duke teammate Elizabeth Williams finished with 10. Johnson paced the Fever with 13 and Jeanette Pohlen added 11.

Rookie Natalie Achonwa scored her first pro bucket to cap an early 22-8 lead for Indiana, at the 2:01 mark in the first period, but the Sun responded with a 19-4 run to command a 27-26 lead just 3:20 into the second.

Indiana assumed a 41-36 lead at intermission behind 3-of-3 3-point shooting from Pohlen. Pohlen finished 4-of-8 from the field, including her three treys.

Indiana played without the services of returning starters Tamika Catchings, Briann January, Erlana Larkins and Shavonte Zellous who all are nursing minor injuries. Maggie Lucas also did not play. Missing for Connecticut were injured starters Chiney Ogwumike and Allison Hightower.

Indiana resumes its preseason schedule by hosting Washington (Noon) on Friday, May 29 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis. The game is preceded by a Choices for Champions educational program at 9:45 a.m.