Mystics 63, Storm 73

NOTEWORTHY:

  • Forward Crystal Langhorne sat out the first game of her career and ended a 41-game streak of games consecutively started due to back pain
  • Rookie forward Victoria Dunlap recorded the first start in her career. Dunlap led the Mystics with 19 points, shooting 7-for-14 from the field and 5-for-7 from the free throw line. Dunlap also grabbed eight rebounds and three steals in 33 minutes of play
  • Forward/center Nicky Anosike posted the fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds
  • Four Mystics players scored in double figures (Dunlap-19, Matee Ajavon-15, Nicky Anosike-11, Marissa Coleman-10)
  • The game featured five lead changes and two ties. The Storm led by as much 14 while the Mystics led by as much as four points
  • Three Storm players scored in double figures (Swin Cash-19, Sue Bird-17, Tanisha Wright-17)
  • Storm forward Camille Little scored nine points along with four blocks and six rebounds in the Storm win
  • This was the Storm's first win on the road against the Mystics since July 24, 2007. The Mystics will match up against the Storm at Key Arena on July 12 for the second and final time this season. The Mystics have not won on the road against the Storm since July 13, 2005

    WASHINGTON MYSTICS HEAD COACH TRUDI LACEY:

    Overall thoughts on the game:
    �We played with a shorter roster and just really fought with tremendous heart. It is a learning process for us. We came out the gate started the game better but the second quarter really hurt us. We really didn�t do a good job of reading their defense and we made some random plays offensively that put us in a hole but on the upside Victoria [Dunlap] really came to her own today so that was good to see. She had 19 points in 32 minutes and we battled on the boards and we did defensively enough to win the game just offensively we were just a little out of sync.�

    On the team�s offense:
    �It was tough. Basketball is a team sport. You can�t win with just one person or two people; you have to win as a team. Even though I started and did well; I still feel bad because we did not win.�

    WASHINGTON MYSTICS FORWARD VICTORIA DUNLAP:

    Thought of her individual and team play:
    �It takes time to really feel yourself out and see what type of defense you need to be playing against someone who is 6�8, virtually the size of the a NBA player. I think last time was a learning experience and this time I knew I really had to be physical because height was a battle I couldn�t win. I had to find another way and the way that works is too physical.�

    WASHINGTON MYSTICS GUARD KELLY MILLER:

    On matching up against Sue Bird:
    �I�ve played against her quite a few times and played with her too. She does a lot of good things her team. She is just a great point guard.�

    Mystics at a glance:
    Points: Victoria Dunlap - 19
    Rebounds: Nicky Anosike - 10
    Assists: Matee Ajavon, Kelly Miller - 4
    Steals: Victoria Dunlap, Nicky Anosike - 3

    SEATTLE STORM HEAD COACH BRIAN AGLER:

    Thoughts on the game:
    �We�re not playing as efficient as we want to. We�re still turning the ball over a little bit too often for our needs. We did shoot a higher percentage. I think in the second and third quarters we helped ourselves. We played pretty good defensively and it gave us a little bit of a cushion going into halftime.

    On Le�Coe Willingham starting at Center in place of Lauren Jackson:
    �First of all, not to disrespect anybody, it�s hard to replace Lauren Jackson with one individual. But Le�Coe brings us quite a bit of versatility. She can stretch the defensive. She does have the ability to shoot the three. She�s a very smart player. Our offense runs well when she�s in the game. And she�s undersized but gets a lot of things done underneath the basket. She�s a very good player and very good for us. �

    SEATTLE STORM FORWARD SWIN CASH:

    On the aggressiveness of the game:
    �That�s their style of play. They�re very physical. They attack the boards. We knew we were going to have our hands full, but I thought our team did an excellent job- our guards getting in there helping, our posts [were] rebounding. �

    On Lauren Jackson�s absence to injury:
    �I think it�s given people opportunities to step up and play more minutes and show their abilities. Now is the opportunity for other people to take advantage of it and the more we play collectively together and get that cohesiveness the better off we�ll be. It could be a different player every night but I think collectively the team just needs to step up.�

    Shock at a glance:
    Points: Swin Cash - 19
    Rebounds: Swin Cash - 7
    Assists: Sue Bird - 5
    Steals: Sue Bird -3