Diamond Miller Scores 19, Nell Angloma Sets Career High as Sun Fall 111-91 to Fever

By Tiffany Williams –

INDIANAPOLIS — The Connecticut Sun came out firing.

Then Indiana buried them.

Connecticut built a 14-point first-quarter lead Friday night before the Indiana Fever detonated for 39 points in the second quarter and never looked back, handing the Sun a 111-91 loss inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Connecticut fell to 10-29. Indiana improved to 26-14.

Diamond Miller led the Sun with 19 points. Nell Angloma delivered a career-high 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Hailey Van Lith and Aaliyah Edwards scored 12 apiece.

For one quarter, Connecticut controlled the game.

Miller scored the Sun’s first five points before drilling a three to put Connecticut ahead 10-9. Charlisse Leger-Walker followed with a three off a Miller assist, and Ashlon Jackson connected from 26 feet as Connecticut began creating separation.

The Sun defense forced a Caitlin Clark turnover, and Saniya Rivers attacked the basket to push Connecticut ahead 18-12.

Then the lead exploded.

Angloma turned her second steal into her first points of the night, and Van Lith eventually stretched Connecticut’s advantage to 28-14.

The Sun led 28-19 after one.

Then everything changed.

Clark opened the second quarter with consecutive baskets, helping Indiana cut the deficit to 28-24. Edwards answered for Connecticut, but Kelsey Mitchell began making her presence felt and pulled the Fever within one at 30-29.

Indiana eventually tied the game at 34.

Angloma answered to put Connecticut back in front, but the Sun could not stop what came next.

The Fever erupted.

With Mitchell driving the offense, Indiana surged ahead 51-41. Clark collected her seventh assist when she found Mikayla Timpson for another basket that extended the advantage to 55-41.

Indiana outscored Connecticut 39-15 in the second quarter.

A nine-point Sun lead after the first quarter had become a 58-43 halftime deficit.

Connecticut tried to fight back.

Miller opened the third at the free-throw line, while Edwards and Rivers combined for seven points to pull Connecticut within 10 at 62-52.

Aliyah Boston answered with consecutive baskets.

Then Indiana struck again.

The Fever unleashed a 9-0 run and pushed the lead to 76-57 before Gianna Kneepkens stopped the surge with a putback and an and-one opportunity.

Edwards continued battling inside, and Connecticut trimmed Indiana’s lead to 79-66 entering the fourth.

But the comeback never arrived.

Angloma and Van Lith combined for seven points early in the final quarter as Connecticut stayed within striking distance. Angloma then connected from 25 feet with 5:56 remaining, giving her a career-high 17 points and cutting Indiana’s advantage to 93-80.

That was as close as Connecticut would get.

Mitchell and Clark powered a devastating 16-4 Indiana run down the stretch, blowing the game open at 109-86.

Van Lith knocked down a late three and eclipsed 200 career points, but the outcome was already decided.

Indiana closed out the 111-91 victory behind 34 points apiece from Mitchell and Clark. Clark also finished with 12 assists, while Timpson grabbed eight rebounds.

For Connecticut, the first quarter showed what the Sun could do.

The second quarter showed just how quickly it could disappear.

A 28-14 advantage became a 15-point halftime deficit, and Connecticut spent the rest of the night trying to recover from an Indiana offensive avalanche it could never completely stop.

The Sun return to action Sunday, August 30, against the Dallas Wings.