Silver Stars-Sun Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted May 23 2012 4:28PM

It's very early, but U.S. Olympians Tina Charles and Asjha Jones have made a strong statement that the Connecticut Sun could be a formidable opponent this season.

The San Antonio Silver Stars aren't quite at that point, but they're still off to a nice start.

Connecticut will try to extend its home winning streak to eight Friday night against the Silver Stars, who were the last visiting team to leave Mohegan Sun Arena with a regular-season victory.

After sweeping New York last weekend in a home-and-home set, the Sun (2-0) are off to their best start since 2008. Charles, the 2010 WNBA rookie of the year, is averaging team highs with 22.0 points and 12.0 rebounds, while Jones is scoring 16.0 per game with 8.0 boards.

"They've got two Olympians, and it's tough to beat a team that has been together for a while," Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter said Sunday after Charles and Jones combined for 45 points and 19 rebounds in a 92-77 home-opening victory. "I think they are the favorite to win the East."

The Silver Stars have work to do before they're in that position in the West, yet there is some optimism coming out of San Antonio after the team began its season by defeating Tulsa 88-79 on Saturday.

That was one of four road games among the Silver Stars' first six contests.

"It's a good beginning point - I think we've got a really good Connecticut team on the horizon, who is sitting 2-0 (and) playing at home," coach Dan Hughes said following Tuesday's practice. "We've been challenged to go on the road for the first two weeks of the season, so this is an important part two of that road trip."

San Antonio, which plays its home opener next Wednesday versus Chicago, will go for a second consecutive victory in Connecticut following a 72-59 win Aug. 11. Becky Hammon led the way for the Silver Stars with 18 points and five assists.

That was the final regular-season loss at Mohegan Sun Arena for the Sun, who lost their home playoff game to Atlanta in the East semifinals after tying Seattle for the league's best home record at 15-2. Connecticut plays six of its next seven at home.

Charles, who has played in 70 WNBA games, needs four rebounds Friday to become the fastest in league history to reach 800. She averaged just 11.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in two losses to San Antonio last year, shooting 7 of 30 (23.3 percent).

Sophia Young, who led San Antonio with 20 points Saturday, had 15 in each 2011 victory over Connecticut. The Silver Stars lost all six of their games between two August wins over the Sun, but they're 3-0 in this series since an 81-68 loss at Mohegan Sun Arena on June 6, 2010.

Montgomery, Charles lead Sun past Silver Stars

Posted May 25 2012 10:33PM

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) The Connecticut Sun are off to one of their best starts in franchise history with Tina Charles playing at a record-setting pace.

The third-year center Charles had 18 points and eight rebounds to become the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 800 career rebounds, helping the Sun beat the San Antonio Silver Stars 83-79 Friday night.

Charles began the day four rebounds short of the milestone and got it with 2:02 remaining in the third quarter. She reached the mark in her 71st career game, besting the previous mark set by Yolanda Griffith, who did it in her 72nd game.

``It's great, but I'm just doing my job, going out there and playing hard and getting boards,'' Charles said. ``I'm a center. That's what we're suppose to do - clean the glass.''

Renee Montgomery scored 23 points and Charles also had three blocks to help the Sun open the season with three wins for the second time in franchise history.

``I love how we've started out the season,'' Montgomery said. ``It's going to be tight at the end (of the regular season), so the more (wins) you get in the beginning, it's great.''

Montgomery had the highest total for a Sun reserve since she scored 33 against Minnesota on Aug. 3, 2010.

``I just try to attack,'' Montgomery said of her approach.

Asjha Jones had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists for Connecticut. Kara Lawson added 13 points and four rebounds.

Danielle Adams scored 21 for the Silver Stars (1-1). Shameka Christon had 14 points and Becky Hammon added 11 points and eight assists.

``(The Sun) just shot it better than we did,'' Hammon said. ``I thought they had nice looks. Our defense wasn't what we wanted it to be, so we've got some work to do. It's early in the season.''

The Sun's Allison Hightower dogged Hammon, a perennial All-Star, for most of the night. Hammon was limited to 3-of-8 shooting for 11 points with eight assists and three steals.

``We just didn't shoot it (well),'' Hammon said of her team. ``You can't shoot 38-percent on the road and expect to beat people on their home court.''

The Sun led 62-60 with 7:41 to go before pulling away with a 12-0 run. Charles began the spurt with a three-point play and followed it by making the second of two free throws after getting Adams to commit her fourth foul.

Montgomery had a steal and a layup and Asjha Jones made a long jumper. Montgomery added another drive, and Hightower went coast-to-coast to stretch the Sun's lead to 74-60 with 4:57 remaining.

Jones made two free throws to give Connecticut its biggest lead at 76-61 with 4:11 to go.

``It's a really good win,'' Sun coach Mike Thibault said. ``That's a good team that we've struggled with. I think we've lost three of the last four times we played them. I thought, for the most part, we did a pretty good defensive job.''

Christon scored six consecutive points - on three free throws and a 3-pointer - to pull the Silver Stars to 82-77 with 18.3 seconds left.

Montgomery made a free throw 2 seconds later and Christon missed two 3s in the final 11 seconds before Danielle Robinson made a layup with 2.4 seconds remaining to close the scoring.

Before the game, Hammon confirmed she will once again play for the Russian women's basketball team at this summer's London Olympics. She created a stir in 2008 when she first played for Russia at the Beijing Games, helping guide that team to a bronze medal.

``It's old news,'' Hammon said. ``I played with them in the world championship, European championship, hopefully I'll enjoy it a lot more. By far it was one of the best decisions I ever made and I stand by that, and really look forward to doing it again.''

Hammon was held to six points on 2-for-4 shooting in the first half. Her 3 with 3:50 to go in the third gave the Silver Stars a 53-52 lead. However, the Sun scored the next six points to take the lead for good.

Lawson made two free throws, Charles hit a hook shot and Montgomery made a driving layup to put the Sun up 58-53 with 2:22 to go in the period.

• Silver Stars: --
• Sun: --

• Silver Stars: --
• Sun: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• Officials: #13 Cameron Inouye, #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #46 Tim Greene
• Attendance: 6115
• Duration: 2:05