Sun fall to Wings, 82-71

Connecticut Solar head coach Curt Miller begins every postgame press convention with a gap assertion earlier than taking questions.

Miller didn’t trouble giving one after Tuesday evening’s 82-71 loss to the Dallas Wings at Faculty Park Middle in Arlington, Texas, and let the media ask away.

There’s simply so many occasions Miller can say the identical issues as Connecticut (14-8) dropped its fourth sport in six tries headed into the All-Star break.

There’s additionally simply so some ways to ask the Solar how they trailed after the primary quarter once more (Dallas led, 28-16). Or their continued wrestle to make photographs away from the basket after being tops within the WNBA in discipline aim proportion previous to June 19.

“We haven’t shot the ball nicely,” Miller stated. “Individuals choose their poison with our submit sport, and so they crowd the paint and pressure us to make photographs. Tonight, we actually executed (to get) open photographs if it was a pull-up two, if it was threes, if it was inside. I assumed we bought a bit bit sloppy late, however you already know that’s (us) attempting to make performs.

“We simply haven’t shot the ball nicely from the three-point line since Atlanta.”

The Solar roasted Atlanta, 105-92, on June 10. They shot 51.9-percent towards a protection that had held opponents to a league-low 38.6 p.c previous to that sport. Additionally they made 10 of 15 threes within the first quarter and completed making 53.8 p.c (14 of 26).

Connecticut has made simply 29 3-pointers over the past six video games. It missed 16 of 20 towards Dallas and shot 43.1 p.c from the sphere.

“Basketball is basketball,” Solar Courtney Williams stated. “Some video games you don’t shoot the lights out. Some video games it’s going to be common. …. That’s simply the fact of basketball.”

Connecticut’s Brionna Jones added, “I feel it’s simply discovering methods to win once we aren’t hitting photographs.”

Jones and Williams have been among the many few Solar gamers who shot nicely towards the Wings. Williams made 12 of 17 for a season-high 25 factors with six rebounds. Jones made 6 of 11 contained in the paint for 16 factors.

Jonquel Jones, final 12 months’s WNBA MVP, made 4 of 10 photographs for 10 factors with seven rebounds.

The remainder of the Solar shot simply 22.2 p.c (6 of 27).

Connecticut did add one thing new in Tuesday’s loss because it was outrebounded (34-29), which has been a power. That included Dallas having an 11-4 edge on the offensive glass.

“We bought damage on the boards,” Miller stated. “We had bother getting second-chance alternatives. Our proportion was in all probability the bottom of the season on offensive rebounds. They usually have been in a position to get to the 50-50 ball offensive rebounds which become factors and (they bought) factors off turnovers.”

Arike Ogunbowale scored 20 for the Wings (10-12) and Allisha Grey had 12 factors and eight rebounds.

Dallas additionally bought manufacturing from reserves Teaira McCowan (14 factors, seven rebounds) and Satou Sabally (14 factors).

Ogunbowale made two free throws with 6 minutes, 32 seconds left within the first quarter to place Dallas forward to remain, 10-9. It additionally began an 11-3 run.

McCowan’s 11-foot jumper gave the Wings their largest lead, 32-20, with 7:59 left within the first half.

Connecticut bought as shut as three factors on three events however couldn’t maintain its offense.

n.griffen@theday.com