UNCASVILLE, Conn., June 2 (AP) -- Asjha Jones scored 11 of Connecticut's first 15 points and finished with 24 in the Sun's 76-67 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday.

Connecticut (3-2) led throughout the game, pulling away to a 13-2 advantage. Phoenix (4-2) cut it to 20-15 at the end of the first quarter, but never got any closer.

Connecticut opened the second half with a 16-3 run to take a 51-30 lead.

"It was won by defense,'' Sun coach Mike Thibault said. "Whatever has been bad was really good today.''

Nykesha Sales and Lindsay Whalen added 18 points each for the Sun, which had a 47-38 rebounding edge. Tangela Smith led Phoenix with 18 points.

Another key for Connecticut was containing Diana Taurasi, the former Connecticut star who was 1-of-3 in the first quarter and attempted just two shots in the second. Taurasi finished with 13 points.

"They did a nice job of matching up with us,'' Phoenix coach Paul Westhead said. "The Sun did a good job on the boards. They hurt us with the run-outs because of second shots.''

The Mercury were held to their lowest point total of the season, just two points more than the team's lowest mark in 2006.