Rachel Banham sets 3-point record as Sun rout Mercury

Rachel Banham had the hot hand, drilling a career-best eight 3-pointers and scoring 24 points, while DiJonai Carrington recorded her first career double-double as the Connecticut Sun rolled past the visiting Phoenix Mercury 96-69 Sunday afternoon.

Banham's last 3-pointer came with 23.6 seconds to go as the Sun extended their lead to 96-67. She set the single-game WNBA record for 3-pointers in a game by a bench player.

Carrington finished with 12 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.

Connecticut (18-5) utilized a balanced attack that also featured 17 points from DeWanna Bonner and 16 points and eight rebounds from Brionna Jones as the Sun improved to 3-0 this season against the Mercury (12-12).

Kahleah Copper led Phoenix with 17 points. Brittney Griner added 16 points and nine rebounds, and Natasha Cloud scored 10 points for the Mercury, who lost their second game in a row.

Ahead only 48-42 at the half, the Sun turned the tide in the third quarter, outscoring the Mercury 19-9. The period ended with Bonner hitting a turnaround jumper as time expired and Connecticut led 67-51 going into the fourth.

Phoenix had the upper hand early, building an 18-9 lead with 3:40 left in the opening quarter. Copper fueled the charge with eight points.

The momentum was soon ripped away as the Sun closed the quarter on an 11-2 run, punctuated by Tiffany Mitchell's off-balance shot with 53.9 seconds to play. The basket tied the game at 20-20.

In the second quarter, Jones grabbed a rebound and was fouled trying to go back up for a shot with 5:44 to go. Her two free throws put the Sun up 31-29 and started of a 7-0 run capped by Banham's third 3-pointer of the quarter. Connecticut led 36-29 lead with 4:48 to play.

Banham hit her fourth shot from distance with 23.8 seconds left in the half, and then almost knocked down a desperation 33-footer at the buzzer.

Connecticut took its first double-digit lead of the day with 8:57 remaining in the third when Carrington sank two free throws for a 52-42 cushion.

The Mercury failed to respond and trailed by as many as 29 in the second half.

--Field Level Media