Whitmore leads Sun to easy win over Fever

Aug 29, 2008 - 5:43 AM By PA SportsTicker

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Tamika Whitmore scored 15 points as the Connecticut Sun posted an 84-58 rout of the Indiana Fever in the first game after the Olympic break for both clubs Thursday.

Asjha Jones netted 14 points and Kerri Gardin and Sandrine Gruda added 11 apiece for the Sun, who outscored the Fever, 30-10, in the second quarter.

The WNBA went on a month-long hiatus so its stars could compete for their respective nations at the 2008 Games in Beijing. Connecticut picked up where it left off before the break, winning its fourth straight game.

Tully Bevilaqua and Tammy Sutton-Brown each scored nine points for Indiana, which shot just 4-of-20 from the arc.

In other games Thursday:

CHICAGO 69, NEW YORK 60: At New York, Jia Perkins scored 19 points as the Sky outscored the Liberty, 20-8, in the fourth quarter to pull away for the victory.

Janel McCarville scored 13 points for New York, which had won six of seven games prior to the Olympic break.

SAN ANTONIO 77, PHOENIX 55: At Phoenix, Sophia Young scored 18 points as the Silver Stars took a 21-point lead at halftime and never looked back.

Looking sluggish in her first game back after winning a gold medal with Team USA, Diana Taurasi scored 13 points on just 4-of-12 shooting for the Mercury, who have lost four of their last five games.

SEATTLE 66, HOUSTON 49: At Seattle, Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird was the lone scorer in double figures with 22 points as the Storm dominated the sluggish contest without reigning WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson, who underwent ankle surgery Thursday.

Sancho Lyttle scored 10 points for the Comets, who shot an abysmal 28 percent (16-of-57) from the field - including 0-of-11 on 3-pointers.

LOS ANGELES 78, SACRAMENTO 63: At Los Angeles, Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie - star forwards for the gold medal-winning Americans - combined for 33 points and 15 rebounds as the Sparks outscored the Monarchs, 22-10, in the pivotal third quarter.

Nicole Powell scored 12 points for Sacramento, which has lost two straight.