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          Connecticut welcomes Las Vegas to WNBA with record rout

          May 20, 2018
          • ESPN News Services

          UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Alyssa Thomas had 13 points, 16 rebounds and six assists to help the Connecticut Sun beat the Las Vegas Aces 101-65 on Sunday in the season opener for both teams.

          The Sun's 36-point victory was a WNBA opening-day record, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The previous record was 35, done twice -- by Washington in 2006 and Cleveland in 2001. It was also the second-largest margin of victory in Sun history; they beat New York by 42 in June 2012.

          Tamera Young, who scored the first two points in franchise history on a jumper 51 seconds in, scored 23 for the Aces.

          Every Connecticut player scored at least two points, led by Alex Bentley's 18. The Sun hit 11 of 22 from 3-point range, while the Aces shot 26.5 percent from the field, including 1 of 7 from behind the arc. Thomas also had two steals and three blocks.

          Bentley hit a 3-pointer 27 seconds into the second quarter, sparking a 10-3 spurt that made it 35-24 about three minutes later. Jonquel Jones made a layup to push the lead to 16 late in the first half, and the Aces trailed by double figures the rest of the way.

          Rookie A'ja Wilson, the first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft, had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Las Vegas.

          Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.