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Jones leads Sun past Monarchs 83-75

Jul 23, 2009 - 2:00 AM UNCASVILLE, Conn.(AP) -- Asjha Jones scored 12 of her season-high 28 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday night and the Connecticut Sun beat the Sacramento Monarchs 83-75 for their fourth straight victory.

The Sun (9-6) overcame an 11-point deficit at halftime.

Jones, who was 13-for-22 from the floor - 10-for-13 in the second half - hit a jumper with 5:05 remaining to stop a 7-0 Sacramento run and give the Sun a 73-69 lead. Jones scored 10 more points in the next four minutes. She also finished with 10 rebounds.

Jones will be Connecticuts lone representative in the WNBA All-Star game Saturday to be played at Mohegan Sun Arena, the Suns home floor.

"Asjha Jones was fantastic," Sacramento coach John Whisenant said. "She made every shot she took. We had trouble maintaining our defensive intensity."

The Sun trailed 44-33 at halftime but opened the third period on a 17-2 run, eventually taking a six-point lead into the fourth quarter.

"Everybody did a good job of calming down and running the offense," Jones said.

Sandrine Gruda had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Sun and Lindsay Whalen had 10 points, four rebounds and five assists.

Nicole Powell led the Monarchs (3-14) with 18 points. Scholanda Robinson and Kara Lawson had 11 apiece.

"That team was well prepared for us," Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said. "Theyre hard to play against. Asjha Jones was sensational."

Robinson, who entered the game 1-for-7 for the season from 3-point range, made both her 3-point attempts in the first half, helping the Monarchs take a 44-33 halftime lead.

The Monarchs held the Sun to 31 percent shooting in the half. Connecticut missed 19 of its first 24 shots.

The Sun head to the All-Star break three games behind first-place Indiana in the Eastern Conference.

"It was a great win to head to the break with," Thibault said. "Things look so much better when the ball is going in the basket."