The Connecticut Sun kicked off the WNBA Semifinals by getting a 1-0 series lead over the Liberty on Sunday.
After five attempts — in the regular season and postseason — the Sun finally defeated the Liberty, 78-63.
DeWanna Bonner carried her team in Game 1, just like she did in the previous round’s decisive Game 3 against the Minnesota Lynx. She scored 15 points in the second half on Sunday. The veteran gave the Liberty heavy doses of pull-up jumpers and three-pointers. It was enough to steal a game at Barclays Center and ensure her team a chance to take home-court advantage later on in the series.
Bonner finished with a team-high 20 points while getting seven boards and three assists. She was the spark plug for her team, and the veteran enjoyed gasps from the Barclays Center crowd after each big shot.
Former Liberty forward Rebecca Allen impacted the game right from tip-off. She blitzed Liberty guards on pick-and-rolls and caused a couple turnovers. Her defense turned into quick offense, including two deep heat checks on her way to eight first-quarter points. She had three steals in the quarter. Allen ended the game with 18 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Allen’s stout defense led the Sun to a four-point lead to end the first. But, the Libs fought back and showcased better defensive resistance themselves. They got Sun guard Dijonai Carrington to turn the ball over on the first possession. Breanna Stewart blocked two of Alyssa Thomas’ shots in the period. One of the blocks came during a Sun possession in which they had four opportunities to score, but failed each time. To end the half, Stewart got by Thomas and knocked down a floater before time expired. The bucket put the Liberty up, 40-37, at halftime.
The Liberty lost control and looked lost on defense to start the third. The Sun took advantage and went on a 16-2 run in the first five minutes of the third quarter. The defense that seemed to find some resistance suddenly looked limp.
Natisha Hiedeman, who finished with 12 points, contributed six on two open three-pointers during the run.
The Liberty were able to cut the lead to five, but Allen struck again. She knocked down another pair of three-pointers in the third. The Libs’ deficit went back to 10 after Bonner’s pull-up jumper as time expired.
Unlike the Liberty’s overtime comeback win against the Sun on Aug. 24, they were unable to get big shots late to dwindle the lead. Jonquel Jones couldn’t take full advantage of a shorthanded Connecticut frontcourt, with star Brionna Jones sidelined with a ruptured Achilles. Sun big Olivia Nelson-Ododa filled in and played good defense on Jonquel Jones. Jonquel Jones finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds. The big also dealt with foul trouble and finished with four.
Stewart couldn’t will her team down the stretch, either. Her 19 points on 7-for-25 shooting wasn’t the efficiency the Liberty needed from their MVP candidate. Sabrina Ionescu spent much of the game being defended by Allen. Ionescu scored 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting in the loss.
