Mystics-Sun Preview

By BRETT HUSTON
Posted Aug 13 2011 12:32AM

The rigors of playing five times in a nine-day span seemed to take its toll on the Connecticut Sun in their latest game. Facing a team that's finishing off a back-to-back stretch might be just what they need to bounce back.

The Sun look to avoid their first consecutive losses in a month Saturday night as they seek a sixth straight home win over the Washington Mystics, who could be the team showing some fatigue less than 24 hours after an exciting victory.

Connecticut (14-8) fared well early in its play-every-other-day stretch that began Aug. 3, with only a two-point loss at Seattle last Friday ruining a 4-0 start to the month.

The Sun seemed to finally run out of gas Thursday at home against San Antonio, however. Connecticut played the Silver Stars even over the final three quarters, but a 25-12 deficit after one quarter proved to be the difference in a 72-59 loss.

The Sun shot just 34.9 percent from the field, and All-Star center Tina Charles tied a season low with six points.

"We just missed shots," said forward Asjha Jones, who scored a team-high 16 points. "You can't really blame fatigue on that. It just happens sometimes. We started off offensively OK, but we weren't getting stops on defense. And when you're not getting things done on offense, you have to get stops on defense, and we just didn't do that tonight."

Perhaps they'll fare better against Washington, which averages an East-low 72.6 points and has the conference cellar all to itself.

The Mystics (5-15) may be tired coming into Mohegan Sun Arena, but they should at least feel confident after an impressive win. Down nine points to visiting New York with six minutes left in the fourth quarter Friday, Washington finished the game on a 14-4 run, capped by Matee Ajavon's two free throws with 1:02 left that were the final points in a 64-63 victory.

"They're a very resilient group," Mystics coach Trudi Lacey said of her team. "We've been in this situation a number of times where they fought back, got closer, but weren't able to do it. Tonight it went our way."

Washington played well in the second end of its only other back-to-back, a 61-59 loss to East-leading Indiana on July 29.

It hasn't gotten as close in a pair of games against the Sun, who are 1 1/2 games behind the front-running Fever. That's due in large part to Charles, who has scored 22.0 points per game as Connecticut has won those two matchups by an average of 12.0 points.

Trips to Mohegan Sun have been especially unkind to the Mystics, who have lost their last five visits there by an average of 15.8 points.

The Sun, who finally get two days off after Saturday's game, last lost two straight July 9-13.

Charles, Montgomery leads Sun past Mystics

Posted Aug 13 2011 10:11PM

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) Tina Charles had no idea that it was such a historic night for some of her Connecticut Sun teammates Saturday until she overheard reporters talking in the locker room.

Charles suddenly began bellowing to her teammates, happily informing them that Tan White had just eclipsed 2,000 career points and Kara Lawson exceeded 600 career assists.

A rousing cheer ensued in the locker room, following Connecticut's 82-75 victory over Washington.

``I'm excited that they're excited,'' said White, who had a nine points and a career-high 10 rebounds.

Charles and Renee Montgomery scored 16 points apiece.

Connecticut (15-8) held Washington scoreless for a five-minute stretch in the fourth period while snapping a 63-63 tie to take lead for good.

Danielle McCray scored 12 points for the Sun, and Lawson added 10.

Lawson and White each hit 3-pointers in the final 2:08 to help the Sun seal the game.

Crystal Langhorne led the Mystics (5-16) with 17 points despite battling foul trouble. Langhorne missed all but 24 seconds of the third period when she was whistled for her fourth foul.

Matee Ajavon and Marisa Coleman had 14 points apiece for Washington and DeMya Walker, cut by Connecticut earlier this season, had 12.

Connecticut went 11 for 11 at the free-throw line in the first half and led 44-43 at halftime.

The Mystics, playing their second game in two nights, shot 69 percent (11 of 16) and led 29-26 after the first period.

``I don't know if it was their hot shooting or our bad defense,'' Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said. ``But after the first quarter we looked like we were supposed to look.''

The Sun attempted 29 free throws and Washington attempted seven.

``We have played with tremendous heart and determination all year. There have been games that we have come up short, but we have been in every single game right up until the end,'' Washington coach Trudi Lacey said. ``We played a tight game, we weren't as aggressive as I would have liked us to be. Connecticut shot 29 free throws and we only shot seven, and I thought that was the big difference in the game.''

• Mystics: --
• Sun: --

• Mystics: --
• Sun: --

• Lead Changes: 11
• Times Tied: 15

• Arena: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• Officials: #53 Jeff Smith, #7 Clarke Stevens, #28 Angellica Suffren
• Attendance: 6717
• Duration: 1:56