UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The Indiana Fever (1-3) fell to the Connecticut Sun, 81-78, on Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Indiana was led in scoring by rookie center Aliyah Boston, who recorded a career-high 20 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the floor. Boston has now scored in double figures in each of her first four games. Fever forward NaLyssa Smith picked up her third-consecutive double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds on the night. She now owns sole possession of fifth place all-time in double-doubles recorded in franchise history with 11, surpassing Tammy Sutton-Brown with 10.
Kelsey Mitchell also tacked on 19 points for Indiana, going 3-of-5 from behind the three-point arc.
Indiana came out strong after winning the opening tipoff, going 6-of-10 from the floor to start the first quarter. Though Indiana’s sole lead of the quarter was held for only 52 seconds, Indiana was able to keep within reach of the early Sun lead. Connecticut (4-1) shot 9-of-21 from the floor in the first quarter and maintained an eight point lead going into the second quarter, 22-14.
The Fever established its presence on both ends of the court to start off the second quarter with a 16-6 scoring run and held the Sun to only two points in the first six minutes of the quarter. Boston’s six points and Mitchell’s five points helped Indiana on the offensive end as the Fever outscored the Sun, 20-16, in the quarter, but still trailed the Sun by four points going into halftime, 38-34.
To start the second half, Fever center Queen Egbo provided support off the bench as she pitched in two of her team-high three blocks on the defensive end. Mitchell found her rhythm in the third quarter as well as she added 10 points, going 3-of-3 from the floor in the interval.
Indiana trailed 79-69 with 1:40 remaining in the game and started to chip away late at the Sun lead. After four made free throws from Smith, the first 3-point field goal in Boston’s career and another bucket inside from Boston, Indiana cut the deficit to 79-78 with 13 seconds remaining. After two made free-throws from Connecticut, a last-second attempt from Lexie Hull missed to seal the win for the Sun.
For Connecticut, Tiffany Hayes led the Sun in scoring with a season-high 22 points, going 3-of-4 from the three-point arc. With Alyssa Thomas recording 13 points and 17 rebounds, and Brionna Jones recording 19 points and 11 rebounds, Connecticut’s veteran frontline guided the Sun to victory.