Sutton's Floater Lifts Portland Fire Over Connecticut Sun | JQJO

Portland, Ore. The Portland Fire defeated the Connecticut Sun 83-82 on Monday night when Sug Sutton drove into the lane and sank a go-ahead floater with 22.6 seconds remaining. Connecticut had two chances on the ensuing possession before Bridget Carleton secured the rebound and was fouled; Carleton made two free throws with 9.7 seconds left to push the lead to four. Charlisse Leger-Walker hit a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining and Portland was assessed an offensive foul to give the Sun another chance, but Aneesah Morrow's heave from halfcourt fell short at the buzzer. Sarah Ashlee Barker and Carleton each scored 18 points for Portland; Sutton finished with 12 and Emily Engstler added 15.

Brittney Griner led Connecticut with 16 points, while Morrow, Hailey Van Lith and Aaliyah Edwards each scored 12 and Leger-Walker had 10. Connecticut led 42-38 at halftime after holding Portland to just 13 points in the second quarter and shot 58 percent from the field for the game; the Sun were 7 of 20 from 3-point range and 11 of 20 at the free-throw line. The win improved Portland to 2-2 while Connecticut fell to 0-5; the Sun continue a five-game road trip at Seattle on Wednesday.