Shock-Mystics Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted May 25 2012 1:06PM

Washington Mystics coach Trudi Lacey needs to see her players take better care of the basketball.

The Tulsa Shock could make that a difficult task.

The well-rested Mystics look to avoid their first 0-2 start in four years Saturday night when they face a winless Shock team opening a season-high five-game trip.

After finishing an Eastern Conference-worst 6-28 in 2011, Washington (0-1) opened the season last Saturday with a 69-57 loss to Chicago. The Mystics' 23 turnovers led to 25 Sky points.

"Decisions, passes, simple things like pass and catch the basketball," Lacey said. "I would expect players with experience who have been in the league to make better decisions than we did early on."

Washington continues its three-game homestand against Tulsa (0-2), which makes its only visit to the nation's capital this season after forcing 46 turnovers in two games.

The Shock lost 89-87 to Phoenix on Tuesday after Scholanda Dorrell's putback was waved off when the referees ruled it came after the final buzzer. They fell 88-79 to San Antonio on Saturday despite leading by four with less than three minutes remaining.

"We feel like we played two really good games these last two games that we very well could have won," Dorrell said. "Now it's going to take us refocusing and not worrying about this loss or the last one and gearing up for our next one."

The Shock, a league-worst 1-16 away from home last season, have dropped both road games against the Mystics since relocating from Detroit following the 2009 season.

Washington, though, has lost five in a row overall and 14 of 15.

"We took that first game and we learned from it, so hopefully the things we did in practice will carry over into the game," guard Dominique Canty told the Mystics' official website.

Crystal Langhorne, who led Washington with 16 points and eight rebounds in the opener, had 23 points, seven boards and 11 turnovers in Tulsa's last visit - an 83-63 Mystics victory June 26.

Eight days earlier, the Shock defeated Washington 77-59, and that remains their largest margin of victory since relocating.

Ivory Latta led Tulsa with 22 points in that game and is averaging 15.0 this season to rank second on the team behind newcomer Temeka Johnson, who is averaging 18.5 points and 8.0 assists. Johnson, the 2005 rookie of the year with Washington, spent the past three years with Phoenix and totaled 10 points and nine assists in two wins over the Mystics last season.

Washington has won five of seven in this series since the start of 2009.

Mystics withstand rally, down Shock 64-61

Posted May 26 2012 10:47PM

WASHINGTON (AP) The Mystics couldn't take care of the basketball, yet still found a way to beat the lowly Tulsa Shock.

Matee Ajavon scored 19 points and Crystal Langhorne added 15 points and 10 rebounds to help Washington fend off Tulsa 64-61 on Saturday night.

Monique Currie had 15 points as the Mystics (1-1) won despite committing 32 turnovers. Dating back to the 2011 season, Washington had lost five straight and 14 of 15 games.

``We didn't particularly play well but we were able to come out with the win,'' Ajavon said. ``We have a lot of things to work on and we will practice and come out better.''

After Ajavon's fast break layup put the Mystics ahead 58-43 early in the fourth quarter, the Shock stormed back with a 14-0 run. Following an exchange of baskets that kept Washington ahead, Tulsa regained possession after the Mystics, slow to move the ball across half court, were whistled for an eight-second violation.

Ivory Latta scored 16 points to lead the Shock (0-3), but committed a turnover on the next possession. The Mystics countered with Currie's jump shot and a Langhorne free throw, extending the lead to 63-59 with 1:36 remaining.

``It was a crucial turnover that I had and I just felt like it was a turning point and gave them a little momentum,'' Latta said.

Glory Johnson's layup with 1:23 on the clock pulled the Shock closer at 63-61, but it would be the last basket of the game. Langhorne added another free throw with 4.1 seconds remaining, putting the Mystics up by three.

Following a timeout, Washington's closing defense kept Tulsa from getting off a shot in regulation, allowing the Mystics to survive despite scoring only eight points in the fourth quarter.

``Obviously (I am) happy we were able to execute down the stretch and pull out the win,'' Mystics coach Trudi Lacey said. ``However I was not pleased with the types of turnovers and the number of turnovers we committed. Very simply, we have to make better decisions with the basketball.''

The Shock shot 30.5 percent (18-of-59) from the field and scored nine points in the third quarter. Dating back to last season, Tulsa has lost seven straight games, including a two-point heartbreaker against Phoenix on Tuesday.

``It's very frustrating,'' Latta said. ``It's like we're one shot away or one layup or one pass or one something away from getting that win.''

Washington closed the second quarter on 12-1 run capped by Currie's 3-pointer and led the turnover-plagued half 40-34. After the Shock scored the opening basket of the second half, a 12-2 spurt gave the Mystics their largest lead at 54-38.

The matchup between the owners of the two worst records in the league last season featured a disjointed first half filled with turnovers and missed opportunities.

The teams combined for more turnovers (25) than field goals (20) in the first half. Washington shot 57.9 percent (11-of-19) from the field and made 15-of-18 free throws before halftime, but also committed 16 turnovers. In two games this season, the Mystics have netted a combined 55 turnovers.

The Mystics second-leading scorer last season, Ajavon sat out the season opener with a sore knee. Coming off the bench against the Shock, she sparked the offense in the first half with 15 points, sinking 8-of-10 free throws.

``I got to the free throw line a lot which helped me and I played off of that,'' Ajavon said.

``It was very nice to have Matee back,'' Lacey remarked during the postgame. ``She provides us with a lot of energy. She is tough and that's what I've asked them to be.''

Beginning a season-long five-game road swing, the Shock turned the ball over 11 times in the first half and 19 overall.

Tulsa lost 15 of 16 road games during its trying 3-31 campaign last season.

Washington finishes its three-game homestand against reigning WNBA champion Minnesota on Wednesday. Tulsa plays at Los Angeles on Tuesday.

• Shock: --
• Mystics: --

• Shock: --
• Mystics: --

• Lead Changes: 10
• Times Tied: 10

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #35 Billy Smith, #37 Matthew Myers
• Attendance: 11866
• Duration: 2:15