The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SHE finished just one point shy of a third consecutive double-double but Jonquel Jones continues to be a force on the boards for the Connecticut Sun.

Jones finished with 14 rebounds and nine points in the Sun's 85-77 win over the San Antonio Stars at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday.

It was the second win of the season for the Sun on their lengthy road trip as they improved to 2-5 overall over the winless Stars who dropped to 0-7. In just over 30 minutes, Jones shot 4-9 from the floor with two blocked shots.

She currently leads the WNBA with 12.6 rebounds per game well ahead of second place Sylvia Fowles of the Minnesota Lynx (10.1) and Elizabeth Williams of the Atlanta Dream (10), as the only three players in the league averaging double figures on the boards.

Jones is also scoring 13.7 points per game and, along with Fowles, are also the only two players in the league averaging double-doubles.

The Grand Bahama native's rebounding numbers are also both top ranked in offensive (4.8) and defensive (8.1) rebounding. She is also ranked at No.9 in blocked shots with 1.29 per game.

The Sun return home to host the Atlanta Dream June 10, when they will celebrate Pride Night at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Jones grabbed a rebound and converted a putback layup for a three-point play on the Sun's very first possession of the game.

The Stars took a 19-15 lead at the end of the first quarter. Connecticut took control and widened the margin over the course of the next two-quarters where they outscored the Stars 48-32. The Sun won the second quarter 25-16 to take a 45-30 lead into the half. They won the third quarter 23-16 to take a seemingly comfortable 68-46 lead into the fourth.

The Sun rallied from a 27-21 deficit thanks to a 19-8 Connecticut run where Courtney Williams scored 11 of her 15 first-half points.

The Stars opened the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run to pull within 63-60 with just under three minutes gone in regulation.

Jasmine Thomas responded by scoring eight of the next 10 Sun points, helping to push the lead back to 73-64. She followed with a crucial three-pointer, with 2:51 remaining, to regain the double figure lead, 78-66.

For the second game in a row, the Sun were without Morgan Tuck, who is sidelined with a knee contusion.

Three of the Sun's five losses have been in close games, by just two points.

In a WNBA.com article by Justin Lester, Jones said her teammates' confidence in her has been vital in her improvement this season.

"I think I just have a better understanding of the game and what to expect. I feel like my teammates are trusting me more and we're trusting each other. Even though it's not showing up in the win column, we're playing together and we'll get over the hump," Jones said. "Anytime an organisation believes in you like that, you want to play well for them. Especially coming out of college, and I wasn't in one of the power conferences. I'm still trying to prove them right every time I step on the court."