COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — Jonquel Jones had 26 points and eight rebounds, DeWanna Bonner added 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists and the Connecticut Sun beat Atlanta 78-67 on Friday night to spoil the Dream’s inaugural game at the Gateway Center.
Jones, playing in her first game for Connecticut in 582 days after opting out last season, scored all 16 of her first-half points in the first quarter to help the Sun build a 22-17 advantage. Connecticut led 43-33 at the break.
Natisha Hiedeman added nine points for Connecticut, which will be without star Alyssa Thomas all season after she injured an Achilles tendon playing overseas. Bonner made four of Connecticut’s 10 3-pointers, and Jones and Hiedeman each added two.
Connecticut dominated the paint, outrebounding Atlanta 42-26.
Odyssey Sims and Courtney Williams each scored 14 points for Atlanta, which was without Tiffany Hayes. Tianna Hawkins added 11 points and Chennedy Carter, who picked up her third foul early in the third quarter, had 10 points. Aari McDonald, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, was held to one point in 16 minutes.
The Dream struggled from the field, going 23 for 64 (35.9%), in interim coach Mike Petersen’s first game at the helm.
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