MYSTICS NOTES

• The Washington Mystics (3-2) defeated the Atlanta Dream (2-2), 97-76, Sunday afternoon at Charles E. Smith Center in Washington, D.C., forcing a decisive Game 5 in the WNBA Semifinals series. Washington’s 97 points are a new franchise playoff record, topping the 96-point performance against Los Angeles earlier this postseason.
• The Mystics and Dream will face off in Game Five of the WNBA Semifinals series on Tuesday, September 4 at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, Ga. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
• The Mystics were led by guard Kristi Toliver, who scored a team-high 22 points on 8-16 (.500) from the field and 4-9 (.444) from 3-point range in her 33^rd career postseason game. Toliver also dished out seven assists, her highest total this series.
• Washington shot 12-26 (.462) from 3-point range, tying a franchise playoff record for 3-point attempts made.
• Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne, who missed Game Four with a bone bruise in her left knee, scored 15 points, including 3-5 (.600) shooting from 3-point range, and grabbed 10 rebounds. Delle Donne has recorded a double-double in all four playoff games she has appeared in this season.
• Mystics rookie guard Ariel Atkins set a new playoff high in points scored (19) for the third time this postseason.
• Mystics guard Natasha Cloud scored 13 points, tying a career playoff high, and recorded five assists. Today was Cloud’s third game this postseason with 13+ points and 5+ assists.
• Six Mystics, including all five starters, scored in double figures – Toliver (22), Atkins (19), Delle Donne (15), Cloud (13), forward Tierra Ruffin-Pratt (11) and center LaToya Sanders (10).
• Washington outshot Atlanta in field goals (.500 to .424), 3-point field goals (.462 to .375) and free throws (.789 to .560).
• Washington outscored Atlanta in all four quarters: 20-12 in the first, 24-23 in the second, 28-26 in the third and 25-15 in the fourth.
• Washington outscored Atlanta in points in the paint (36-24), second-chance points (8-6) and fast-break points (12-5).
• Washington led Atlanta, 44-35, at halftime. Toliver shot 5-9 (.555) from the field and 2-4 (.500) from 3-point range, tallying a team-high 12 points in the first half.

DREAM NOTES

• The Dream are now tied, 2-2 in the series after tonight’s loss.

• Brittney Sykes has finished in double-figures (12) in three of the four games in this series.
• Renee Montgomery recorded her eighth career double-digit scoring effort with 12 points.
• Montgomery dished out a career-best 10 assists in a Playoff game. She finished with her first career double-double.
• Jessica Breland finished with 12 points, her sixth playoff double-digit of her career.
• With her eight rebounds tonight, Breland now has 42 in the series.
• Tiffany Hayes has recorded double-digit points (12) in all four games.
• With two blocks tonight, the Dream now have 27 for the series, which is a new franchise record for one series.
• The Dream have grabbed 158 rebounds over the four games against Washington, which is a new franchise best for a Playoff series.
• Over the first four games of the series, Atlanta has grabbed 114 defensive rebounds, the most in franchise history for a series.
• The Dream’s seven offensive rebounds today has pushed the four-game total to 44, the most in franchise history in the Playoffs.

MYSTICS HEAD COACH MIKE THIBAULT  

On tonight’s game: 

“It was a great win. It’s nice to see six people in double figures. I thought our bench, Myisha Hines-Allen, [Tierra] Ruffin-Pratt, and [Aerial] Powers gave us a big lift. Those two, [Kristi Toliver and Elena Delle Donne] that were just here are really stars but you look around and you see the other three that are out there in the starting lineup. Ariel Atkins during that little run hit two huge threes to kind of pull open the game. LaToya [Sanders] does what she does, she can be a lot of help on getting some calls. Natasha [Cloud] struggled in some areas but then she turns around and makes two big drives when the game got close to the end too. The only thing that’s kind of interesting to me is that their backup Monique Billings shoots 11 free throws and Elena Delle Donne shoots zero. I’m going to go figure that out.”

On when he found out Elena Delle Donne would be able to play today: 

“I knew when I got here and she got here today. I didn’t know before that. I mean basically, really, it was coming this morning for her and get a workout, do some cutting, running it back and see where she was. Then came out and did her normal pre-game shooting routine about an hour and a half before the game and she said she felt good. I really didn’t know. I had planned, you know, yesterday how we practiced, to play without her. Have that as our plan of action. Obviously, it was a nice present to see her in a uniform and ready to go. I just think more than anything else she just gives everybody else around her confidence that we kind of got this. That we have the best player in the game on the court and that helps a lot mentally.”

MYSTICS GUARD KRISTI TOLIVER

On Elena Delle Donne’s presence on the floor: 

“Whether Delle’s on crutches, it doesn’t matter. If she’s on the floor, they have to respect her and honor her. That just changes everything for everyone. I’m happy that she was able to get going, especially in the second half. Feeling good. Legs were under her. I’m just really happy to have her back.”

On the message she sent the team the night before the game:

“I’m better when I can kind of collect my thoughts and write things out. I was just telling them what I was feeling. Ultimately, just the belief I have in this team. I think it showed today. I think everybody played within themselves and when that happens we’re great. I look forward to Tuesday and another challenge. It’s going to be more difficult on the road, but the message is the same that I wouldn’t pick this team over anybody.”

MYSTICS FORWARD ELENA DELLE DONNE

On how her knee is feeling after the game:

“Great. We live to play another day. My knee feels awesome. Just rest, recover and get ready for the next one.”

On what she’s been doing to recover:  

“A lot. I’m not going to bore you with all the details. The two main recovery things have been the hyperbaric chamber and flow tanks. Just finding a way to get as much rest and recovery as I possibly can in a small amount of time. Tons of ice. A lot of just laying around and elevating. Staying off of it so your bones can recover and be ready to go.”

On starting strong after the half: 

“Especially like she said, coming out of the half. That’s when you can kind of go into a little bit of a lull and relax but to see us coming out that string and just know the importance of every single possession is so big for us. ”

MYSTICS LEADERS:
POINTS: Kristi Toliver – 22
REBOUNDS: Elena Delle Donne – 10

ASSISTS: Toliver – 7
STEALS: Natasha Cloud – 4

DREAM HEAD COACH NICKI COLLEN

 On Atlanta’s performance in Game Four:

“Amazingly, we did a lot of things well tonight at the offensive end, we just didn’t guard, and guarding is a staple it is what got us to this seed and certainly what is going to propel us forward if we are going to come back and bounce back and get a win in Game Five. I think it was a couple things: you can’t win a playoff game and shoot 50 percent from the foul line.”

On what is the most important thing to fix going into Game Five:

“We have to confidently step to the line and make those situationally, I think we have to play through contact and get more and ones as opposed to going to the line for two. But no, we certainly want to shoot free throws better, but I think when you lead the league in defensive efficiency that it has to start there.”

On the feelings going into Game Five:

“We have got to bounce back, it has been a long time since we lost two games in a row. It was in June. When we have lost we have done a good job at bouncing back, we know it is a huge challenge. Washington is good, they have been good consistently all year, so it won’t be easy.”

DREAM GUARD RENEE MONTGOMERY

On the mentality going into a game against Elena Delle Donne:

“The plan in our mind was that she was going to play, we came in expecting her to play. Our prep and everything was for Elena to play.”

On what contributed to the loss in Game Four:

“Elena Delle Donne – she kind of sucks you in, but they caught fire in the third quarter. A lot of the shots were open we were helping, but a lot of times we are pros and if you give a pro an open shot, a lot of us can knock them in.”

DREAM FORWARD MONIQUE BILLINGS

On mindset going into Game Five:

“Just to fix our mistakes that we made in this game, look back on it, how can we do better, how can we stick together and bounce back and have a completely different mindset going into the next game and to win.”

DREAM LEADERS:
POINTS: Four players – 12
REBOUNDS: Jessica Breland – 8

ASSISTS: Renee Montgomery – 10
STEALS: Tiffany Hayes, Brittney Sykes – 2