UNCASVILLE — DiJonai Carrington glanced up at the scoreboard after the first quarter on Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena and decided to change her game.
The Connecticut Sun guard was not looking at her own stats, but at those of the Phoenix Mercury’s Kahleah Copper who she was matched up against. Copper posted 10 points in the opening 10 minutes. Carrington held Copper to seven points for the rest of the afternoon in the Sun’s eventual 96-69 win.
“I take that stuff personally as a person who cares about defense and considers themselves a defensive player. You care about that kind of stuff,” Carrington said on Sunday. “I looked at the score and was like ‘Alright, it’s time to lock in.’”
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Carrington contributed on both ends of the court and finished the game with six offensive rebounds, five defensive rebounds, two steals and 12 points. While Rachel Banham’s 24 points from a career-best eight three’s were the headliner, Carrington’s well-rounded performance bolstered the Sun’s dominance in the second half.
“DiJonai is a prime example of what a typical progression in this league is, and of someone that when the opportunity is there for them they take full advantage of it,” Sun coach Stephanie White said Sunday. “She’s been incredibly consistent for us all season long on the defensive end of the floor. I think over the last three or four weeks she has finally found a comfort in her offensive game as well.”
Carrington’s shots were not hitting early on, but it did not deter her from being a meaningful player for Connecticut. She found her Plan B – being tenacious around the basket with rebounds and fighting for every loose ball.
“I just try to find a way to impact the game. I was frustrated, especially in the first half defensively, and I wasn’t able to knock down some good looks or finish at the rim,” Carrington said. “You can take yourself out of the game or you can find another way to impact it.”
White said Carrington’s versatility – whether it’s her speed, ability to alter plays, defensive details or rebounding – has been a key tool for the Sun this season.
Carrington and her teammates will look to carry Sunday’s momentum into their final game before the month-long Olympic break that starts July 21. The Sun will face the New York Liberty – a team they have yet to win against this year – at Barclays Center for a 7 p.m. tip off Tuesday.
The Sun have had limited practice time in the last two months. Carrington said she will use the break to fine-tune her game, get some one-on-one skill work in and rest in order to come back stronger when the playoff push begins.
“DiJonai is a prime example of what a typical progression in this league is, and of someone that when the opportunity is there for them they take full advantage of it,” White said. “They take it and don’t give it up.”
