Sun on brink of elimination after Game 3 loss to Lynx originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s officially win or go home for the Connecticut Sun in their WNBA semifinal series against the Minnesota Lynx.

The Sun are down 2-1 in the best-of-five series after dropping Game 3 90-81 on Friday night at Mohegan Sun Arena. They need a shooting performance in the next matchup — and a solution for Lynx forward Napheesa Collier — to force a do-or-die Game 5.

Connecticut shot just 41.1 percent from the floor and 3 for 20 (15 percent) from three-point range in the loss. Meanwhile, Minnesota made 57.4 percent of its shots.

Collier dominated with a game-high 26 points (11-19 FG) and 10 rebounds. Courtney Williams (16 points), Kayla McBride (13 points) and Bridget Carleton (12 points) also played key roles in Minnesota’s win.

All five Sun starters scored in double figures, but the bench points were the difference as Minnesota totaled 16 to Connecticut’s four. Brionna Jones led the Sun with 21 points, while Alyssa Thomas recorded another near triple-double (13 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists) in the losing effort.

It was a particularly tough night for Suns guard Marina Mabrey, who had 14 points but made just 1 of her 12 shots from deep. She will find her feet in Game 4 this Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena.