Connecticut
Bonner helps Connecticut surge in fourth quarter and beat Mystics – The Collinsville Press
Connecticut’s DeWanna Bonner scored 14 of her game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter to help the Sun beat Washington on Friday night.
After Washington’s Ariel Atkins drained a three-point shot after a turnover from the host Connecticut Sun, the visiting Mystics had a seven-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
That was the high water mark for the Mystics Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville. The Sun scored 17 of the next 20 points in the game including a run of 17 consecutive points to beat the Mystics 84-77 before a crowd of 6,871.
Connecticut veteran DeWanna Bonner scored 14 of her game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter as the Sun won their second straight game and beat the Mystics for the sixth straight contest. DiJonai Carrington had 21 points and three assists for the Sun while Alyssa Thomas had 13 points, a team-high 11 rebounds and six assists.
Washington (0-2) hit eight of their first 17 shots from three-point range to stay in the game but sank just one of 5 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. The Sun had 14 steals in the game and six in the pivotal fourth quarter.
“I had to do something,” Bonner admitted. “For three quarters, I wasn’t my best. I felt I had to turn it on or sit down. I just got aggressive on defense.”
In the fourth quarter, Bonner was 6-of-9 from the floor with four rebounds and four steals.
“Great players understand the moment,” Sun coach Stephanie White said. “She had struggled shooting the basketball but she found ways in the fourth quarter to get to the rim. Whether it was attacking, cutting , getting an easy one or getting to the free throw line. It is the DNA of some players to understand the moment.”
Washington led 59-52 early in the fourth quarter after Atkins completed a three-point play. Bonner scored in the lane to cut the lead to five and then stole the ball and drove to the basket to reduce the lead to three, 59-56.
A three-point play from Shakira Austin extended the Mystic lead to six but Carrington scored in the lane, was fouled and completed the three-point play to cut the lead to three, 62-59 with 8:02 remaining in the game.
The Sun scored the next 12 points of the game to take a 62-59 lead. Bonner had six of the ten points on drives to the basket. Two baskets came off fabulous passes from Thomas and the third basket came after another steal and a drive to the basket.
Brionna Jones also had two baskets in the low post for Connecticut. She had seven points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes of work as she continues to come back from last year’s achilles tendon injury.
The Sun led by seven, 75-68 with 2:54 remaining but the Mystics didn’t go quietly.
After cutting the Connecticut lead to two with 1:50 remaining, it was Ty Harris with a three-point in the lane with 1:36 left to extend the lead to five points.
Washington cut the lead to three with 16.7 seconds but Bonner hit two free throws with 13.9 seconds and then Harris stole the ball and drove in for a layup with a second left to ice the contest.
Karlie Samuelson had a career-high 18 points and four three-point goals. Julie Vanloo came off the bench to score 12 points for the Mystics.
“It wasn’t a pretty game,” White admitted. “For three quarters, we were pretty average. In the fourth quarter, we gutted it out and found a way to win. That is a tribute to our leaders and the toughness that (Thomas), (Bonner) and Bri Jones bring. Finding ways to get a win in this league is big. I am proud of them for finding a way.”
Connecticut 84, Washington 77
At Uncasville, Conn.
Washington (77) K. Samuelson 6-8 2-2 18, Austin 4-8 2-3 10, Dolson 3-7 0-0 9, Atkins 3-12 2-2 8, Sykes 0-1 2-2 2, Hines-Allen 2-4 2-2 7, Edwards 3-5 0-0 7, Vanloo 5-9 1-1 6, Walker-Kimbrough 5-9 1-1 12, Richards 2-3 1-2 5, Engstler 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-58 12-14 77
Connecticut (84) Bonner 9-19 4-4 22, Thomas 3-7 7-7 13, Jones 3-5 1-2 7, Carrington 7-18 7-7 21, Harris 2-7 1-1 5, Nelson-Ododa 3-3 2-3 8, Banham 0-4 0-0 0, Jefferson 2- 2-2 8, Mitchell 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-68 24-26 84
Washington (0-2) 20 16 20 21 — 77
Connecticut (2-0) 18 18 16 32 — 84
Three-point goals: Washington 9-22 (Samuelson 4-5, Dolson 3-5, Atkins 0-5, Sykes 0-2, Hines-Allen 1-2, Vanloo 1-4, Richards 0-1); Connecticut 2-20 (Bonner 0-6, Carrington 0-4, Harris 0-2, Banham 0-3, Jefferson 2-4, Mitchell 0-1)
Connecticut
Florida High School State Bronze Medalist Dajah German Verbals To Connecticut For Fall 2027
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Florida high school state bronze medalist Dajah German has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2027. She publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut! I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have pushed me to be my best throughout the years. And a very special thank you to Coach Chris and Coach Nicole for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m so excited for what’s ahead. GO HUSKIES!
A rising senior at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida, German trains year-round with Swim Fort Lauderdale and primarily specializes in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events.
German has improved each year of her high school career, most recently dropping from 23.78, 51.39, and 1:50.56 in the 50/100/200 free to 23.54, 51.35, and 1:49.69 during the 2025-26 short course season.
German’s top meet of the season was the Florida Senior Championships in March, where she recorded her current PBs in both the 50 and 200 free. She finished second in the 500 free (4:55.94) and 1650 free (17:02.78), third in both the 50 free and 200 free, and fifth in the 100 free (51.43). She set her current 100 free PB at a smaller holiday meet in December. In the 500 free, she clocked a season-best 4:55.21 at the Speedo Cup in January, with her lifetime best of 4:53.19 coming at the 2025 Florida Senior Championships.
German has qualified for the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championships for the past three years, with her top performance coming at the 2025 iteration in November. She placed third in the 50 free (23.96), fifth in the 500 free (5:01.12), and helped Fort Lauderdale to fourth place in both the 200 free relay (24.64 leadoff) and 400 free relay (53.08 anchor).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.54
- 100 Freestyle: 51.35
- 200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
- 500 Freestyle: 4:53.19
A Division I Mid-Major program, Connecticut competes in the Big East, with the women’s team placing second out of seven teams at this past season’s conference championships. German’s current lifetime bests would have placed third in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 100 free, setting her up as an immediate contributor with two full seasons of training still ahead before her first conference meet.
German joins Anna Mumford, Lyla Devlin, Lena Brown, and Louisa Holda in committing to the Huskies’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 80. Light west wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 59. Southeast wind around 8 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
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