WNBA 2016: San Antonio Stars 85, Washington Mystics 74

A Tale of Two Halves: Washington Mystics Unable to Overcome a 23-Point Deficit in the First Half, Lose to the San Antonio Stars, 85-74

Sun., Aug. 28, Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. – Having just beaten the Indiana Fever the night before in their first home game since the Olympics, the Washington Mystics (10-16) started slowly and found themselves behind by 23 points by the end of the first half. The unrelenting defensive pressure by the San Antonio Stars (6-19) paid off handsomely as the Mystics manage to score just six points in the second quarter. In addition, in a span of 10 minutes, the Mystics committed five turnovers and made just one field goal in 14 attempts (7%).

(Was this the lowest scoring quarter in the history of WNBA? No, not even close. The record is held by Chicago Sky, which scored just one point when it played against the New York Liberty on August 4, 2011.)

In the third quarter, the Mystics played efficiently and smartly in both ends of the floors and outscored the Stars, 32-20. Washington’s Tayler Hill took over the game and scored 21 points, making seven of 11 attempts and five of seven 3-pointers in the second half. Unable to make up enough ground, the Mystics lost, 85-74, putting a damper on their hunt for a playoff spot.

The most impressive player in the game was Stars’ Moriah Jefferson, the rookie from UConn who registered 15 points on 50 percent shooting, nine assists, and just one turnover. Her speed, agility, determination, and full court awareness allowed her to run the team like a field general.

Photos: San Antonio Stars 85, Washington Mystics 74
all photos by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine