Lynx Fall to Connecticut

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Alyssa Thomas scored 15 points to lead the Connecticut Sun to an 84-80 victory over the defending champion Minnesota Lynx on Friday night in the WNBA's return from the Olympic break.

Jasmine Thomas scored the tiebreaking basket with 15.2 seconds to play and finished with 12 points, and Alex Bentley and reserve Courtney Williams also had 12 points for the Sun (9-16) in their third straight victory. Chiney Ogwumike had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Seimone Augustus pulled second-ranked Minnesota (21-5), which had four players and coach Cheryl Reeve with the champion U.S. team in Rio, into a tie with a tough baseline jumper with 1:03 to play.

Then 5-foot-9 Jasmine Thomas responded with a baseline jumper of her own over 6-2 Rebekkah Brunson, making it 82-80. Maya Moore, who scored 40 points for the Lynx the last time the two teams played, then shot an airball on a 3-pointer.

The Sun followed with a miss, but Ogwumike grabbed the rebound and that led to a free throw from Camille Little at 17 seconds. After a turnover by Lindsay Whalen, Bentley iced it with a free throw at 7.2 seconds.

Whalen and Syliva Fowles had 16 apiece for Minnesota but Moore, fourth in the league at 19.4 points a game, was held to eight and 3-for-12 shooting.