After an 8-game losing streak against the league’s worst team, the Sacramento Monarchs, the Washington Mystics finally managed an 87-73 victory this Sunday. The Mystics gained their first back-to-back triumph since they opened the season with a 3-0 streak. The Washington team entered the game anxious to build pressure and finish the midseason with a victory.

The Monarchs, on the other hand, have been suffering through one of their worst seasons, with a dismal 4-15 record.

Nevertheless, Washington did not play a careless game. The Mystics proved that the team had evolved throughout the season, gaining an early 17 point lead after a 16-3 run in the first quarter and starting the second with a score of 30-17. During the second quarter, Sacramento retaliated with a strong 7-0 run, cutting the lead to 10 points. However, despite the Monarchs’ effort, Washington let the Monarchs come no closer, and ended ahead at halftime at 45-36.

Both the 30-point first quarter and the 45-point first half set team records for the Mystics.

The Monarchs managed to cut the lead to just 6 points in the third, with Ticha Penicheiro converting a layup shot with 3:44. However, a 9-4 run by the Mystics in the final minutes of the quarter again gave the Washington team a 9 point lead.

The fourth quarter proved much the same. Every time that Sacramento tried to cut the lead to a single digit, Washington would respond with a small run and increase the lead. It was in the fourth that Marissa Coleman shot a three-pointer – possibly the most important shot of the game – that not only gave Washington a 10 point lead and but also gave the team the motivation to preserve the lead to the end.

The Monarchs were unable to close the score in the final stages of the game and lost 87-73.

Mystics starter Crystal Langhorne stated at the end of the game that, despite her team’s struggle this season, Washington is looking more consistent and more secure; her team, she said, is learning how to handle the game.

"I think we did a really good job controlling the game. I think a lot of the early games we were making silly mistakes down the stretch, and you can tell we're getting used to each other. When certain people have the ball in certain situations, we just how to handle things and what to do," said Langhorne, who ended with 19 points.

For the Mystics the best players of the game were Langhorne, with 19 points and 8 rebounds, and Lindsey Harding, who contributed with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. On the other hand, the highest contributors for the Sacramento Monarchs were Kara Lawson with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, and Demya Walker with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

For their next game, the Mystics will travel west to play the Indiana Fever at Conseco Fieldhouse on July 28th; Sacramento will face San Antonio on July 30th.

About the Author

Ally White is a top senior copy writer on WNBA games and sports action for the sportsbetting www.instantactionsports.com/.
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