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Why Fire coach is loving ‘messy’ 1-point win over Sun
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- Why Fire coach is loving ‘messy’ 1-point win over Sun
Why Fire coach is loving ‘messy’ 1-point win over Sun appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Portland Fire escaped with an 83-82 win over the Connecticut Sun on Monday night, and head coach Alex Sarama said afterward the game showed how the team expects to win this season.
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Sug Sutton scored the go-ahead basket with 22.6 seconds remaining, and Portland held off Connecticut’s final possession attempts to secure the win at home. The Fire improved to 2-2 despite battling injuries and size disadvantages throughout the game.
“It was messy and it was very scrappy at times, but I always felt like we’re in with a great chance to win that game,” Sarama said, as reported by Nik Streng of The Oregonian/OregonLive. “Just the trust we have in the group and knowing that we can take so much confidence in our defense when we’re forcing teams over like that.”
Portland played without Carla Leite and Kamiah Smalls and also lost Megan Gustafson during the game. The Fire also faced Connecticut center Brittney Griner , who stands 6-foot-9 and finished with 16 points.
Despite those challenges, Portland consistently pressured the Sun defensively and forced mistakes that helped keep the game within reach.
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“That’s how you know when we’re winning games this year going to be because of that,” Sarama said. “It’s going to be because we’re committing to all our principles of play, the disruption and scoring off the turnovers that we’re forcing.”
Sarah Ashlee Barker and Bridget Carleton each scored 18 points for Portland, while Emily Engstler added 15 and Sutton finished with 12. Connecticut rookie Charlisse Leger-Walker hit a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds left to trim the deficit to one, but Aneesah Morrow ’s halfcourt attempt at the buzzer fell short.
Sarama also pointed to the growing connection between the team and Portland’s fan base. Monday’s announced attendance was 12,010.
“There’s amazing buy-in from the group of what we’re trying to achieve here,” Sarama said. “And I think having the fan base can see that now and you know, we think that when we get to play here it’s an advantage for us getting in front of that home crowd. I think we’ve really cemented this as it’s going to help us this year and we look forward to these home games for that reason.”
The Fire travel to Indiana on Wednesday, while Connecticut plays in Seattle .
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
