Sparks’ end run quiets Sun, 88-68
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UNCASVILLE, CONN. — Marta Fernandez and Mwadi Mabika each scored 19 points and the Sparks routed Connecticut, 88-68, on Saturday, ruining the Sun’s home opener.
Taj McWilliams-Franklin, traded from Connecticut in the off-season, scored 15 points and had seven rebounds for the Sparks (2-1).
The Sparks led, 52-32, at intermission, shooting 56% from the field.
Connecticut (1-2) went on a 12-2 run after the break and cut the deficit to 64-61 when Lindsay Whalen made a jump shot with 8:05 left.
Fernandez’s three-pointer with 4:46 to go put the lead back to double digits, and the Sparks outscored Connecticut 24-7 down the stretch.
Nykesha Sales led Connecticut with 17 points, and Erika de Souza, part of the McWilliams-Franklin trade, had 16 points and nine rebounds.
The Sun’s Asjha Jones, who replaced McWilliams-Franklin in Connecticut’s starting lineup, missed her first 13 shots and finished with three points on one-for-14 shooting.
The Sparks outscored the Sun 54-26 in the paint. Connecticut seemed content to take the outside shot but made only five of 20 from three-point range and was 35% from the field.
