Tina Charles propels Connecticut Sun to a 96-95 overtime win over Phoenix Mercury – WNBA Recap
On Sunday night, Tina Charles sunk a 12-footer jumper with just five seconds to go in overtime as Connecticut Sun edged past Phoenix Mercury 96-95 at US Airways Center. It was the second consecutive defeat for the Mercury, who
are fourth in the Western Conference with a 11-9 record.
Renee Montgomery scored a team-high 28 points and dished out three assists in the victory. Montgomery shot 8 for 19 from the floor, including 5 for 12 from three-point range, and 7 for 8 from free throw line. Asjha Jones punctuated
27 points, shooting 13 for 18 from the floor and grabbed five rebounds for the Sun, who successfully bounced back from their defeat to Seattle Storm last night.
Charles recorded a double-double with a game best 17 rebounds and 23 points. The Sun forward also dished out four assists and blocked two shots on the night.
Diana Taurasi led all players with 29 points, pinning 10 of 10 free throws. Taurasi also pulled down eight rebounds and dished out six assists. DeWanna Bonner came off the bench with 24 points and 11 rebounds while Penny Taylor
pulled off a strong all-around game for Phoenix with 13 points, five assists, five rebounds, a game best four steals and a block.
Candice Dupree ended the game with 12 rebounds and 10 points for the Mercury, who have lost five of their previous 10 games.
Connecticut shot 45.2 percent (38 for 84) from the floor and 76.5 percent (13 for 17) from free throw line. Phoenix, on the other hand, shot just 38.2 percent (34 for 89) from the field and 83.3 percent (15 for 18) from the line.
Taurasi erupted with 16 points in the first half of the game as Phoenix carried a five-point lead, 46-41 going into the locker room. Sun bounced back into the game in the third quarter and outscored Mercury 28-18, converting their
5 point halftime deficit into a 69-64 lead.
Phoenix played well in the fourth quarter and fought back to take a 77-75 lead with 04:43 to go in the quarter. The Sun however went on a 9-3 run to take a 84-80 advantage, but Connecticut responded with four unanswered points
to knot the game at 84, sending it into overtime.
Phoenix held a 95-92 lead with 59 second left in O.T. Jones answered with a jumper to cut the deficit to one, 95-94. Mercury failed to cash in on their ensuing possession and the ball fell into the hands of Charles, who nailed
a 12-footer with five ticks remaining to give Connecticut a 96-95 advantage for good.
Taurasi and Dupree then missed jumpers in the last seconds of the game that could have given them the victory.
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