UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) – Marta Fernandez and Mwadi Mabika each scored 19 points and the Los Angeles Sparks routed Connecticut 88-68 Saturday, ruining the Sun’s home opener.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin, traded from Connecticut in the offseason, added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Sparks (2-1).

Los Angeles led 52-32 at intermission, shooting 56 percent from the field.

Connecticut (1-2) went on a 12-2 run after the break and cut the deficit to 64-61 when Lindsay Whalen hit a jumper with 8:05 left.

Fernandez’s 3-pointer with 4:46 to go put the lead back to double digits, and Los Angeles outscored Connecticut 24-7 down the stretch.

Nykesha Sales led Connecticut with 17 points, and Erika de Souza, part of the McWilliams-Franklin trade, had 16 points and nine rebounds.

The Sun’s Asjha Jones, who replaced McWilliams-Franklin in Connecticut’s starting lineup, missed her first 13 shots and finished with three points on 1-for-14 shooting.

The Sparks outscored the Sun 54-26 in the paint.

Connecticut seemed content to take the outside shot, but hit only 5-of-20 from 3-point range and was 35 percent from the floor.

AP-ES-05-26-07 1800EDT