Sun-Silver Stars Game Thread

Final, Silver Stars win, 85-73: The Sun cut San Antonio's lead to five points at one point, but their continued shooting struggles and key baskets by a number of Silver Stars ended their seven game winning streak.

Sophia Young finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Becky Hammon led all scorers with 24 points. Ann Wauters had 15 points and nine boards.

The Sun got their usual production from their three stars: Asjha Jones finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, Tamika Whitmore had 17 points and Lindsay Whalen had a line of 16 points with five rebounds and three assists.

But outside a few late buckets from Svetlana Abrosimova (nine points), the bench was largely unproductive for Connecticut. It now leads Detroit by one game atop the Eastern Conference standings with three games to play.

End of 3rd quarter, Silver Stars lead 61-48: San Antonio went on a 12-0 run late in the frame and had its lead up to 16 at one point. The Sun opened the period strong, but hit a cold snap again and at times were simply out-hustled. In the best example of that, Ann Wauters chased down a long rebound in the right corner with under 10 seconds to play -- beating out three Sun players -- and hit a jumper with 5.1 seconds to play.

Sophia Young has 20 points. Tamika Whitmore has 17.

End of 2nd quarter, Silver Stars lead 35-28: After starting the quarter on a 7-0 tear, the Sun couldn't hit anything. No really, they couldn't. They managed just two free throws in the final 7:56, finishing the quarter 3-for-21 from the field. Sophia Young, meanwhile, found a rhythm, scoring her team's final eight points. She has 12 at the break.

Tamika Whitmore, on fire in the first quarter, went scoreless in the second. Lindsay Whalen has seven points, but was one of several Sun players to miss a lay-up or two during their cold streak.

End of 1st quarter, Silver Stars lead, 23-19: San Antonio went on a 3-point shooting binge to close the quarter, knocking down four of them in the final two minutes, including two by Ruth Riley. Tamika Whitmore, meanwhile, is having a day. She has 11 points, and pulled off two straight and-one plays in the final two minutes. One, a jump shot-and-foul over Sophia Young, was one of the more impressive plays she's made this year. Amber Holt is playing solid defense on Becky Hammon (five points) as well.