Valkyries leverage torrid second-quarter to win over struggling Sun

A 36-point second quarter blew up the game open as the Golden State Valkyries rolled to a 87-63 rout of the visiting Connecticut Sun on Sunday in San Francisco.

Golden State (7-6) shot 10-of-18 from the floor (55.6 percent) in the pivotal period, while holding the sputtering Sun to a 4-of-16 clip in the second. The resulting 36-12 disparity effectively sealed the Valkyries' fifth win in six games by intermission, as Golden State held a 27-point edge by the break.

The 59 points set a single-half record for the fledgling franchise. In the second half, Golden State locked down defensively to offset its own sluggish offense.

Connecticut (2-12) scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter, and held the Valkyries to just 14 points for the period as Golden State coach Natalie Nakase went deep into the bench.

Four Valkyries reserve logged at least 17 minutes, including Laeticia Amihere, who recorded a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double in 23 minutes.

But while Golden State finished with just 28 points in the second half, it limited Connecticut to 31 points on 10-of-31 after halftime. The Sun shot 20-of-66 from the floor, including 7-of-24 from 3-point range, en route to their sixth consecutive loss.

The Valkyries shot 18-of-60 from the field in the first, third and fourth quarters, but their blistering second period provided plenty of offense to overcome the woeful 30 percent shooting in the other frames.

Kayla Thornton led all scorers, posting 21 points for the Valkyries. Chloe Bibby shot 3-of-7 from 3-point distance to finish with 11 points off the Golden State bench.

Tiffany Hayes scored 14 points and Veronica Burton chipped in 10 in the Valkyries win. Aneesah Morrow reached double-figures scoring for the third consecutive game in her rookie season, leading Connecticut with 14 points.

Jacy Sheldon was the Sun's only other double-figure scorer with 10 points.

-- Field Level Media