by RENALDO DORSETT
Jonquel Jones said her aim was to provide the Connecticut Sun with rebounding, defence and three point shooting in her rookie season.
It took just one game for Jones to pay immediate dividends for the franchise in her preseason debut.
She finished with eight points, four rebounds and two blocks in 16 minutes in the Sun’s 84-81 win over the Chicago Sky at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncascville, Connecticut.
Jones shot 3-5 from the field and 2-3 from beyond the three point arch.
Selected at No.6 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks, they immediately traded Jones to the Sun in exchange for Chelsea Gray and the Sun’s first round pick in 2017.
“I just want to be able to bring some defensive intensity, help the team out with my versatility by being able to step out and knock the three ball down every now and again as well. I would say defence is definitely something I feel the coaching staff expects me to bring and I want to bring to the team as well,” she said last week at the team’s media day, “I just want to always be a positive force on the team, no matter what situation I’m in, just understanding what coach needs from me and being able to fulfill it.”
The Sun acquired the third, fourth and sixth pick on draft night last month but it was Jones who had the better game of the trio of talented rookies.
Third pick Morgan Tuck finished with seven points and four rebounds but shot 1-8 from the field in 27 minutes while fourth pick Rachel Banham scored three points on 1-5 shooting.
The Sun will complete the second game of a back-to-back, May tonight against the San Antonio Stars.
They will open the 2016 regular season against the Chicago Sky on May 14 and will play their first home game May 14 against the Washington Mystics.
