Douglas, Sun Reach Decisive Game 3

The Connecticut Sun got Katie Douglas back Saturday. She helped give them one more shot at the Eastern Conference title.

Douglas, playing with a hairline fracture in her right foot, gave the Sun a big spark en route to a 77-68 victory over the Detroit Shock to force Game 3 today.

After missing the first game in the series, Douglas was back in the starting lineup even though she wasn’t 100%. She provided a lift during one of the big swings of the game, making a three-point basket during a 17-5 run in the third quarter to give the Sun a 54-43 lead. Douglas finished with six points in 29 minutes, and the Sun beat Detroit for the first time in five meetings this season.

The Shock trailed, 70-67, with 53 seconds left, but could get no closer.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin led Connecticut with 18 points despite playing the fourth quarter in foul trouble. Margo Dydek scored nine of her 17 points in the third quarter. After missing 103 shots in its last two playoff games, the Sun made 25 of 59 shots from the floor Saturday.

Deanna Nolan had 27 points for the Shock.