Shock-Sun Preview

Riquna Williams continues cementing herself as one of the most feared scorers in the WNBA.

That's about all that's going well for the Tulsa Shock.

Tulsa looks to avoid losing 10 straight games for the first time in four years when it visits the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night.

Williams began the season coming off the bench as starting guard Skylar Diggins shined during the Shock's 8-1 start. She averaged 12.8 points during that run before being thrust into the starting lineup after Diggins tore her ACL on June 28.

The fourth-year guard is averaging 18.0 points in 14 games as a starter after matching a season high with 35 in Sunday's 98-90 loss to Atlanta, her third 30-point effort over her last nine.

Those outbursts shouldn't be all that surprising. Williams, whose average of 16.0 points on the season would be a career best, scored a WNBA-record 51 points against San Antonio in 2013.

The Shock (10-13) haven't been able to rally around Williams. Each of her 30-point performances has coming during a losing streak that is the third longest since the franchise moved from Detroit for the 2010 season.

Tulsa hasn't dropped 10 straight since a WNBA-record 20-game skid in 2011. Coach Fred Williams changed his starting lineup Sunday, inserting rookie Brianna Kiesel in place of Odyssey Sims, who had seven points in 24 minutes off the bench.

Kiesel finished with seven points in 16 minutes. Karima Christmas joined Williams in double figures with 18, but the Shock tied their season worst for points allowed.

Despite not having won since beating Los Angeles on July 11 at home, Tulsa still sits in third place and in playoff position in the Western Conference. It's unclear if Williams will keep the same starting five against the Sun (11-10), who are fifth in a tight East race.

Connecticut had a two-game winning streak snapped with Sunday's 84-73 loss at Washington. Alex Bentley had a career-high 31 points in Friday's win over the Mystics, but she missed all three of her field-goal attempts and finished with two in the rematch.

The Sun shot just 34.4 percent. Leading scorer Kelsey Bone (15.0 points per game) shot 5 of 15 from the floor but hit 9 of 10 from the free-throw line and finished with 19.

Connecticut is seeking a fourth straight home win while looking to deal Tulsa a fifth straight road loss. The Sun won the last meeting 78-76 on the road July 5, 2014, on a layup with 5.8 seconds remaining.