Atlanta races away from Sun in blowout victory

Connecticut’s Aaliyah Edwards (8) goes to the rim against Atlanta’s Naz Hillmon (00) in Thursday’s WNBA game in Uncasville.  (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)

There are just a few games remaining with the Connecticut Sun at the Mohegan Sun Arena as the final season draws nearer to the end.

This wasn’t one to remember.

Alisha Gray and Rhyne Howard each scored 29 points as the Atlanta Dream dominated the Sun with a 104-69 victory before a sellout crowd in Uncasville of 8,911.

Howard, who torched the Sun for 36 points in June, set the tone for Atlanta (21-12) with 23 of her 29 points in the first half. Gray tied a season-high with her 29-point effort, matching 29 points she scored against Chicago on July 19.

Connecticut (8-23), who trailed by as many as 37 points, lost for the sixth time in their last seven games and are 2-10 since July 1.

Aaliayh Edwards came off the bench to score 15 points, including 11 in the third quarter, to lead the Sun. Gianna Kneepkens scored a career-high 10 points, also off the bench. Not one starter got into double digits for Connecticut.

Rookie guard Charlisse Leger-Walker had eight points for the Sun while veteran center Brittney Griner had seven points, a team-high eight rebounds and two blocks. She made the 900th block of her career early in the first quarter.

Angel Reese had a game-high 15 rebounds for Atlanta and scored eight points.,

Led by Howard and Naz Hillmon, the Dream took an 11-point lead in the first quarter. The visitors had an 11-point lead after one quarter, 28-17

The Sun cut the lead to nine on a pair of free throws from Nell Angloma, 28-19 but Grey sank three free throws to extend the lead to 12. With 6:54 left in the first half, the Sun trailed by 11 (31-20) after a Diamond Miller free throw.

Atlanta closed out the quarter with a 20-12 run to take a 41-27 lead at the break. To start the third quarter, Atlanta went on a 7-0 run with Gray, Howard and Jordin Canada at the helm. Olivia Nelson-Ododa stopped the run driving to the basket for two. The 37-point deficit was the largest of the season for Connecticut, who trailed Las Vegas (May 13) and Indiana (May 22) by 36 points in those two respective games.

Atlanta, who is 8-2 in their last 10 games, moved into a tie with Indiana for the top spot in the Eastern Conference and fourth place in the league as teams jockey for playoff position.

The Sun try to get back on the winning track when they host the New York Liberty on Saturday with a 1 p.m. matinee start at the Mohegan Arena.

It will be the final WNBA appearances for New York’s Brianna Stewart, the former UConn All-American, and Jonquel Jones, the former WNBA MVP, on the Mohegan Sun hardwood.