UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) -Tina Charles had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Connecticut Sun to an 81-68 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Sunday.

Renee Montgomery had 16 points while shooting 4 for 8 on 3-pointers and DeMya Walker added a season-high 12 points for the Sun (5-2), who improved to 5-0 at home.

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``We are getting there, little by little,' Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said. ``I think the players are excited. I think they see the potential of all the things we can do.'

Sophia Young scored 21 points to lead San Antonio (2-6), which has lost four straight. Chamique Holdsclaw had 14 points and Roneeka Hodges added 10. The Silver Stars played without leading scorer Becky Hammon, who was out with an injured right quadriceps.

``We had no subs really on the perimeter, so the fouls were, in my estimation, a result of fatigue and not being able to sustain our defensive effort,' San Antonio associate head coach Olaf Lange said. ``I thought we fought well, but we got behind and we were outmanned.

``We tried and did what we could but we were just a little short. Not to take away anything from Connecticut. They played a strong game and they deserved the win.'

Lange is leading the team in place of his wife, head coach Sandy Brondello, who gave birth last week.

Walker made two free throws with 2:27 left in the third period to cap a 9-0 run and give Connecticut a 55-42 lead. The Sun led by 12 heading the fourth quarter, and the Silver Stars got no closer than nine the rest of the way.

``Connecticut came out aggressive and they played really well, so you have to give them credit,' Young said. ``We keep getting better. I know we've lost four in a row, but I have seen progress.'

San Antonio used an 8-2 run to take an 18-10 lead on Holdsclaw's layup with 2:10 left in the first quarter. The Sun scored the next seven points to pull within one on Tan White's 3-pointer in the final minute of the quarter.

Montgomery hit consecutive 3s in a 29-second span to give Connecticut its first lead, 23-22 with 7:42 to go in the first half.

``Our team does a really good job of not getting rattled,' Montgomery said. ``We do a good job of staying calm and working our way back and keeping our composure. We're mature enough where we have enough youth and experience where we can push it and can be under control.'

San Antonio's Ruth Riley made a layup to tie the score at 26-all nearly 4 1/2 minutes later.

Charles followed with a three-point play with 2:10 left in the half to give the Sun the lead for good.

Connecticut led 34-30 at halftime.