Whalen sets Sun's career assists mark

UNCASVILLE, CONN. — Lindsay Whalen had nine assists to set Connecticut's career record and scored 14 points to help the Sun overcome a 14-point deficit to beat the Houston Comets 78-68 Tuesday night.

Asjha Jones had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Sun (13-5), who maintained the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

"When you have Connecticut down, they still fight their way through," Houston coach Karleen Thompson said. "We had a bit of a lead, but we stopped playing defense."

Houston (7-9) played its third straight game without Olympian Tina Thompson, who has a broken left ring finger.

Matee Ajavon led Houston with 14 points. Michelle Snow had 11 points and Hamchetou Maiga-Ba had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Sancho Lyttle had nine points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 4:33 left.

Whalen now has 744 assists, surpassing the Comets' Shannon Johnson, who had 737 when she played with the Orlando/Connecticut franchise from 1999 to 2003.

Houston led 36-22 with 3:34 left in the first half before Connecticut went on an 8-2 run before halftime.

Connecticut also overcame third-quarter technical fouls to Whalen, Jones and Tamika Whitmore.

"They fired us up," Jones said. "After they happened, we started to play better individually and as a team."

Jamie Carey made a pair of 3-point field goals in the fourth quarter for Connecticut, the second of which gave the Sun a 72-67 lead with 1:17 remaining.

Ajavon's free throw with 1:05 left got the Comets within four at 72-68, but Houston got no closer. Connecticut went 6-for-8 from the free throw line in the final minute.

Connecticut rookie Sandrine Gruda scored a career-high 14 points and former Comet Barbara Turner added 10 points and nine rebounds.