Mystics 62, Lynx 81

NOTEWORTHY:

  • The Mystics lost their third consecutive game against the best team in the league, the Minnesota Lynx, who moved on to a 19-6 record with the win
  • Three Mystics players scored in double figures (Matee Ajavon � 15; Marissa Coleman � 12; Crystal Langhorne � 11). Both Coleman and Langhorne shot 5-for-8 from the field for the Mystics
  • The Mystics led by as much as four points in the first half but never saw the lead again after halftime. The Lynx led by as much as 23 in a game that featured one lead change and four early ties
  • The Lynx shot .571 percent from the field, completing 36 out of 63 attempted shots. Four Lynx players scored in double figures (Seimone Augustus � 18; Maya Moore � 14; Rebekkah Brunson � 13; Lindsay Whalen � 11)
  • The Mystics attempted a season low eight free throw shots and have now dropped to 2-4 in games in the month of August and 5-18 overall
  • The Mystics were outrebounded for the eighth time this season and are 0-8 when outrebounded by opponents. The Lynx pulled down 30 total rebounds while the Mystics grabbed 27
  • This is the first time the Lynx have won on the road against the Mystics since September 14, 2008

    WASHINGTON MYSTICS HEAD COACH TRUDI LACEY:

    Overall thoughts on the game:
    �This was a disappointing loss. I definitely feel like we competed. I�ve talked to them all season long about how we have fought but we just didn�t do it tonight. Minnesota is a very good team and they have a lot of scorers. There were little things we needed to do like box out and not give them second chance opportunities. You can�t do that against a really good offensive team.�

    On Minnesota�s offense:
    �They do have a lot of offensive weapons and they have a really good bench. They are the best team in the league but I still feel like we competed well on the defensive end.�

    On Marissa Coleman defending Maya Moore:
    �Maya is a tough guard and she got Marissa in a little bit of foul trouble but I thought it was a good match up. It�s hard to have someone get in foul trouble when we have such a short bench.�

    WASHINGTON MYSTICS FORWARD DEMYA WALKER:

    Defensive strategy to stop Minnesota�s scoring:
    �We needed to be aggressive, we were really going to have to play a strong team defense because they work well together, they cut off the ball, and they are really good individually. So we really needed to step up individually defensively on our girls. As a team, for the reads we just didn�t execute that.�

    Limiting the number of turnovers:
    �I don�t think we did a good job of that as far as them being able to get all of their transition baskets off of our turnovers, and the way you limit [turnovers] is just take care of the ball. We got a little frenzy and in the frenzy we didn�t make the right decisions.�

    WASHINGTON MYSTICS FORWARD CRYSTAL LANGHORNE:

    Overall Thoughts on the game:
    �They just outplayed us tonight, hustle plays, offensive rebounds, on defense they were better on offense they were better and they beat us by twenty.�

    Coming on strong in the first quarter but losing the momentum down the stretch:
    �We started turning the ball over and giving them offensive rebounds, that really got them going and they are such a good offensive team you can�t let them get easy stuff because then they will really start going.�

    Plays for countering Minnesota�s offense:
    �We tried to change it up on them. We tried to go zone, tried to go man, they did a great job against it, we just weren�t aggressive defensively.�

    Mystics at a glance:
    Points: Matee Ajavon - 15
    Rebounds: Marissa Coleman, Crystal Langhorne, DeMya Walker -5
    Assists: Kelly Miller - 4
    Steals: Coleman - 3

    MINNESOTA LYNX HEAD COACH CHERYL REEVE:

    Overall thoughts on game:
    �In the first quarter, we didn�t get the loose balls, and [Washington] turned those into baskets. I thought we adjusted. I thought we turned up our defense. And that�s who we are. When we defend and we rebound and we go the other way, we�re pretty good. We really focused on the game plan. We really focused on who we wanted to be defensively. We were really confident as a team.�

    On coming back from a huge loss at Connecticut on Tuesday:
    �You can�t hang your head. For us, that was the first time all year that we didn�t show up for a game, so it was a little bit surprising for us. We didn�t like the way it felt and we made sure it didn�t happen again. We�re tired. Every team in the WNBA right now is tired. We�ve been on the road. I don�t practice the day in between games on the road, but we called a practice yesterday. Every single one of them embraced being there. They gave everything they had. I told them that that�s the sign of a great team, that you want to practice and you want to do well in practice. And that carried over into the game. �

    MINNESOTA LYNX FORWARD MAYA MOORE:

    Expectations coming into this game:
    �They were very high. We�re coming off of one of our worst energy and effort-wise games of the year and with our last one we wanted to come in and turn it around and outwork the next team that we played, and that was tonight. I was proud with our effort. �

    MINNESOTA LYNX GUARD LINDSAY WHALEN:

    How the team was able to draw a large lead:
    �They were playing us tough. I know they�re in every game and playing competitive. They have so many good players. I though after the first quarter we started putting some things together. We got stops on defense and then we were able to push the ball and get some fast break points and I think that�s what turned the tide.�

    Lynx at a glance:
    Points:Seimone Augustus - 18
    Rebounds: Taj McWilliams-Franklin - 7
    Assists: Lindsay Whalen - 7
    Steals:Maya Moore - 4

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