Story By: Erin Zollars
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
When the season started for the Mystics, many thought they would be middle of the pack at best, today they not only are not middle of the pack, they are in the lead of the Eastern Conference at 9-5, after a solid 92-80 victory over the Connecticut Sun.
The Sun had control early and jumped out to an early 17-6 lead. Problem in the first half? Washington struggled to generate points inside. However, the Mystics slowly reeled them back in as the first half played out, cutting the deficit down to three at the half.
LaToya Sanders, who finished the game with a season-high 18 points, hit a layup to put the Mystics on top midway through the third quarter and sparked a 22-4 run that ultimately proved to be the difference for Washington.
“They congested (the lane),” Sun head coach Curt Miller said about why the Mystics pulled away. “And when you don’t have a defensive three second call the entire game, and you feel like they’ve got four or five people in the paint most possessions, they did a good job at congestion around the lane as we were dominating inside early. And so it got harder as the game went on of those points in the paint.”
Chiney Ogwumike had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Connecticut (8-6) and Alex Bentley had 13 points and six assists. Also, Morgan Tuck had 11 points and five rebounds and Jasmine Thomas had 13 points and four rebounds.
Next up for the Mystics, a date with the Liberty at home on Thursday night.
