LAS VEGAS (June 2, 2022)—The Las Vegas Aces erased 18 points of a 19-point deficit Thursday evening, but were unable to get over the hump, falling to visiting Connecticut (7-3), 97-90. The loss snapped the Aces’ seven-game winning streak, dropping them to 9-2 on the season.
KEY RUNS
First Quarter (Connecticut 37, Las Vegas 22)
The Aces led early, 5-2, but the Sun scored 13 straight to go up double figures causing Las Vegas to call time out. Connecticut eventually led by as many as 19 in the quarter. The Aces committed 7 turnovers in the period which the Sun flipped into 13 points. Connecticut’s 37 points were the second most ever allowed by the Aces in a quarter. The Sun also shot 83.3 percent from the field in the quarter, which is the 5th best shooting percentage ever for an Aces opponent in a period.
Second Quarter (Connecticut 53, Las Vegas 50)
Trailing by 18, 51-33 with 4:24 to go in the half, Las Vegas closed the period by scoring 17 of the final 19 points. Las Vegas held the Sun to 33.3 percent shooting in the quarter.
Third Quarter (Connecticut 78, Las Vegas 72
Las Vegas cut the Sun advantage to one on four occasions, but couldn’t retake the lead.
Fourth Quarter (Connecticut 97, Las Vegas 90)
The Sun opened up an 11-point lead with 6:42 to go. The Aces sliced the deficit to three, but couldn’t get any closer. Jackie Young (ankle) and Chelsea Gray (mouth) were both injured in the quarter and did not return.
KEY STATS
It has been 811 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered.
The Sun made 50.0 percent of their shots compared to 48.5 percent for Las Vegas
Las Vegas committed 14 turnovers, which the Sun turned into 21 points. Connecticut made 10 miscues, which Las Vegas turned into 14 points.
The Sun bench outscored the Aces bench, 15-5. Las Vegas’ starters outscored Connecticut’s 85-82.
GAME NOTES
Riquna Williams missed the game with a left foot strain.
The Aces 9-2 start is the best 11-game start in franchise history.
A’ja Wilson scored in double figures for the 10th time this season and the 117th of her career (13 points).
Jackie Young scored in double figures for the 13th straight game and the 51st time in her career (season-high 26 points). It was her 5th game with 20 or more points this year, and the 10th of her career. She was injured early in the fourth quarter (ankle), walked of under her own power, but did not return.
Kelsey Plum scored in double figures for the 18th straight game and the 75th time in her career (23 points). It was her 4th game of 20 or more points this year, and the 19th of her career. She also connected on 5 three-pointers, making it 18 straight games in which she has connected on at least one from long distance—the longest active streak in the league. Plum is the only player in the league this year with 5+ threes in at least three games.
Chelsea Gray was injured with 2:43 remaining in the game, left under her own power, but did not return.
The Aces trailed by as many as 19 in the game, which is the largest deficit for the team this season—17 at Washington on May 10. Had they completed it, it would have been the largest deficit overcome in a game in the WNBA this season (15, twice).
Connecticut’s 37 points in the first quarter were the second most ever allowed by the Aces in a quarter (38, 1st Q, at Seattle, May 31, 2018). The Sun also shot 83.3 percent from the field in the quarter, which is the 5th best shooting percentage ever for an Aces opponent in a period.
NEXT OPPONENT
The Aces conclude their three-game homestand Sunday with a 3pm PT tip against the Dallas Wings.