Tina Charles: A look back at her double-double games in the 2011 WNBA Regular Season – Part 1
Connecticut Sun centre Tina Charles had a monster 2011 season. The WNBA rookie of the year last season and former UConn national player of the year surpassed her previous WNBA record of 22 double-doubles by adding one more. The
22-year-old centre sensation reached double scoring figures in 32 out of the 34 games she played during the regular season 2011.
Here is a brief review of Charles’ terrific double-doubles during the regular season:
June 16 vs. Washington Mystics
Charles recorded her first double-double of the regular season in Connecticut Sun’s 79-71 victory over Washington Mystics on June 16 at the Verizon Center. Charles added a game-high 26 points, leaving her just one shy of career-high,
and grabbed a team best 10 rebounds. The player scored 17 of her points in the first half and ended on 11 for 17 shooting from the field.
"She looked really fresh when everybody else was tired late in the game," Sun Coach Mike Thibault said of Charles brilliant performance. "I thought she was still playing at a very high level energy-wise."
June 19 vs. Chicago Sky
Charles was on fire against Chicago Sky, registering her second consecutive double-double in the Sun’s 83-68 at Mohegan Sun Arena. The 6 ft 4 in centre player led all scorers with 31 points, including 11 of them in the final quarter,
and grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds. Charles
With her 31-point performance, Charles became the first Sun player to score more than 30 points since Renee Montgomery had 33 in Connecticut’s defeat at Minnesota last season. The player also tied a franchise record set by Asjha
Jones in 2009 with 13 field goals.
Thibault praised Charles’ individual performance and said, "You could tell early in the game she was aggressive about presenting herself to her teammates to get open to get the ball," "When they did double a couple of times, she
passed well, but she was aggressive about attacking before the double-team got there."
June 23 vs. Chicago Sky
On June 23 against Chicago, in a game that lasted for two overtimes and the victory finally landing in Sky’s hands, the former UConn standout posted her third consecutive double-double. Charles contributed 22 points and pulled
down 13 rebounds in the losing effort. Charles played the game with responsibility, tying the score for two times and putting the Sun ahead twice in the game. However, she could not found her rhythm in second overtime, scoring only two points.
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