Tuck, Sun spoil Stewart’s return to Connecticut
Stewart and the Storm fall to Connecticut Sun (Kyle Wescott/MyWSports)
Breanna Stewart led the University of Connecticut to 4 consecutive national titles while an undergrad. Now that she’s graduated and was chosen first with the #1 pick in the WNBA draft, Stewart returned to the Nutmeg state as the enemy. You wouldn’t know she was the opponent from the smiles she shared with table workers prior to the game or with the amount of Seattle Storm green in the stands. Unfortunately for the Sun, for the first time, Stewart was playing against Connecticut.
The Storm’s triple threat attack of Stewart, Sue Bird, and Jewel Loyd are a dangerous combination. With the three Storm players averaging 47 points per game, it was clear Connecticut needed to have a great defensive game if they were going to move to 2-7 on the year. However, the Sun had given up an average of 90 points per game over the last 4 games. Head Coach Curt Miller was asked after the game if the game plan was to keep the Sun’s taller players fresh by rotating them in often, he said “There were times we wanted to be big and go at them and there were times they forced to go more small ball and we played Chiney at the (center)… we mixed it up and found something that worked.”
The game stayed close in the first quarter with the Sun holding Stewart scoreless. However, it was Sue Bird that kept the Storm attack moving, scoring 9 points in the first quarter. Bird and Loyd hit back to back 3 pointers late in the quarter to create separation and give Seattle a 19-15 edge.
The second quarter looked like the Storm had figured out the Sun. They spread the ball and got some key shots late in the quarter from Crystal Langhorne to take a 38-28 lead into the locker room for halftime. The veteran Bird scored 17 and Langhorne pitched in 9 at the half. Kelsey Bone had 10 points in the first half for the Sun, but was the only player in double digits.
After the game Coach Boucek was asked about Stewart’s slow start and she said “I give their defense a lot of credit, Camille Little is one of the best defenders in the league… I don’t know that it’s anything that Stewie did or did not do well.” Stewart was also asked if the slow start was due to returning to Connecticut and she quickly dismissed the question saying “It wasn’t really a big deal, if that’s why you guys are saying I missed shots, that’s not why I missed shots, I just missed.”
The second half was a different game. The Sun played great defense, getting into Bird’s face more and forcing the Storm to bring the ball into the taller matchups. Stewart finally got her chance to get on the scoresheet with 2:16 to go in the 3rd quarter and would score 6 by the end of the quarter, showing the Stewie that the fans are accustomed to seeing. Morgan Tuck checked into the second half at the 5:07 mark and quickly made a difference. Tuck hit two huge 3 pointers to cut the Storm lead down to just 4 points. That’s where it would stand after 3 quarters, 58-54.
The Sun made it a game early in the 4th quarter. Shekinna Stricklen put back a layup 2 minutes in to the quarter to even the score at 60 apiece. There was a great exchange between the former Husky teammates just after the 5 minute mark. Tuck had a great bump and spin move to score on Stewart, Stewart then threw the hook shot over Tuck on the next trip down the floor, followed by a driving bank shot by Tuck. Coach Miller commended Tuck on her versatility for being able to cover Stewart for most of the second half.
With a minute to go, Tuck hit a 3 pointer to send the entire arena to their feet and tie the game again at 63. Loyd however would quiet down the hopes of the Sun fans with a 3 on the next possession. However, in all the UConn hoopla, it was a former Maryland Terrapin who would be the hero. Alyssa Thomas took the next ball hard to the hoop and was fouled. She sank both shots and the Sun trailed by 1. The Storm took the ball down the floor slowly, eating up the clock. Bird got off a 3 pointer from the top of the key in hopes of putting the game out of reach with only 10 seconds remaining, but the shot clanked off the rim. The Sun inbounded the ball with 8.8 seconds on the clock and Little took the ball towards the hoop, but being well covered, she put up a very poor quality attempt. Thomas seemed to come out of nowhere as she jumped, grabbed the air ball and put the shot back up and in with .6 seconds left to put the Sun ahead 77-76! Stewart would get the last second shot. Being covered closely she faded away as she put the shot up, but the shot came up short.
Coach Miller and the Sun were ecstatic after the win. “Getting 49 points (in the second half) against a team like Seattle that I think is young and crazy talented is a move in the positive direction” Coach Miller said with a smile. Tuck, who ended with her career high 20 points, said “I see Bre (Stewart) as a sister, so just like we have a sibling rivalry and you always want to beat your sibling and I’m sure she feels the same way.”
Follow Kyle Wescott on Twitter @MHSWescott
