BC-BLK–Silver Stars-Sun, 1st Ld-Writethru,0384

Connecticut 69, San Antonio 55

Eds: Optional.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) – Nykesha Sales broke out of shooting slump with a season-high 26 points to lead the Connecticut Sun to their largest margin of victory this season.

Sales finished 10-for-15 from the field in a 69-55 win over the San Antonio Silver Stars Saturday in the Sun’s final home game before the WNBA takes August off for the Summer Olympics.

Sales was held to a season-low four points Thursday in a loss to the Minnesota Lynx.

Shannon Johnson led the Silver Stars with 15 points, six assists and five steals. Jessie Hicks added 10 points for San Antonio (6-17), which has lost eight of their last 10 games.

The Sun’s Katie Douglas scored 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range. Taj McWilliams-Franklin had 13 points and eight rebounds.

The Sun had 10-point wins against the Washington Mystics on June 20 and the WNBA defending champion Detroit Shock on Wednesday.

The Sun (13-12) warmed up late in the first half, outscoring the Silver Stars 21-8 in the final 10 minutes for a 39-25 halftime lead.

San Antonio started the second half with an 18-8 run to cut the lead to 47-43, but the Sun held the Silver Stars to just five points in the final 7:05.

The Sun had 23 turnovers, but out-rebounded San Antonio 38-23.

Connecticut’s Asjha Jones had a career-high seven assists to go along with nine rebounds, while rookie Lindsay Whalen had a career-high seven rebounds to go with seven assists.

Sun coach Mike Thibault wasn’t happy with a poorly played second half, capped by Sales’ long 3-pointer at the buzzer.

“The fact of the matter is, we had a 14-point lead at halftime and we let them get it to four early in the second half,” Thibault said. “We had 16 turnovers in the second half. That’s great today that we won the game, but if you want to win a championship, you’ve got to play better than that and you have to finish better.”

The Sun spoiled the homecoming of former teammates Johnson and Hicks, who returned to the Mohegan Sun Arena for the first time since separate offseason moves sent them to San Antonio.

AP-ES-07-24-04 1707EDT