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The Washington Mystics survived a late surge from the Indiana Fever on Friday, beating them 104-102 in overtime. Indiana’s star guard Caitlin Clark scored a late three-pointer that sent the game to extra time, but Washington held on behind a career-high 30 points from second-year guard Sonia Citron, who scored a third of the Mystics’ points in overtime.
Washington took a decent lead partway through the game, thanks in part to a dismal nine-point second quarter from the Fever. It also didn’t help that Indiana star Aliyah Boston left the game in the second half, with what the team said was a lower leg injury.
But Indiana pushed through a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit, in part thanks to a stellar effort from Clark. The third-year guard finished with a game-high 32 points and seven threes — with the seventh being a game-tying shot that sent the game to overtime.
In OT, the Mystics quickly pulled away again, leaving the Fever scrambling to try and catch up in the final minutes. But Indiana had several chances to get back into it late in the game. Kelsey Mitchell, who finished the night with 24 points, missed two crucial free throws late in overtime; moments later, Lexie Hull missed one of her two attempts. Clark also missed a wide-open three, taken after a rebound on one of Mitchell’s misses.
Washington had a couple of late turnovers that gave the Fever a few more shots to keep the game going. But with 11 seconds left, Mystics rookie Rori Harmon hit one of two free throw attempts to grow the lead to four points.
That one extra point would end up being crucial: Hull hit a stellar three that brought Indiana back within a point.
Citron had a chance to put the Mystics in a slightly more comfortable spot with another pair of free throws, but she missed one, leaving the possibility of a last-second Fever winner on the table.
In the final seconds, Mitchell moved down the court, but was too well-guarded to go for the three. Her long two-point attempt went wide of the basket, securing Washington’s narrow away victory.
The Mystics young core continues to impress early in the season: In addition to Citron’s career night, forward Kiki Iriafen put up 13 rebounds and a career-high 25 points, and Shakira Austin had 19 points in the win.
For Indiana, though, the star of the night was Clark, who put up her highest-scoring performance since June 14 of last year, when she also had a 32-point night. That’s just three points shy of her career high, further proof of the guard’s return to full form after missing significant time last year.
Still, Friday’s loss marks the second one-score loss for the team as the season gets underway. The Fever lost its season opener to the refreshed Dallas Wings, who picked up the three-point win in a high-scoring matchup.
Washington, meanwhile, has had two of its three total games head to overtime, after falling to the New York Liberty last weekend, but is able to survive this time.
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Washington took a decent lead partway through the game, thanks in part to a dismal nine-point second quarter from the Fever. It also didn’t help that Indiana star Aliyah Boston left the game in the second half, with what the team said was a lower leg injury.
But Indiana pushed through a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit, in part thanks to a stellar effort from Clark. The third-year guard finished with a game-high 32 points and seven threes — with the seventh being a game-tying shot that sent the game to overtime.
In OT, the Mystics quickly pulled away again, leaving the Fever scrambling to try and catch up in the final minutes. But Indiana had several chances to get back into it late in the game. Kelsey Mitchell, who finished the night with 24 points, missed two crucial free throws late in overtime; moments later, Lexie Hull missed one of her two attempts. Clark also missed a wide-open three, taken after a rebound on one of Mitchell’s misses.
Washington had a couple of late turnovers that gave the Fever a few more shots to keep the game going. But with 11 seconds left, Mystics rookie Rori Harmon hit one of two free throw attempts to grow the lead to four points.
That one extra point would end up being crucial: Hull hit a stellar three that brought Indiana back within a point.
Citron had a chance to put the Mystics in a slightly more comfortable spot with another pair of free throws, but she missed one, leaving the possibility of a last-second Fever winner on the table.
In the final seconds, Mitchell moved down the court, but was too well-guarded to go for the three. Her long two-point attempt went wide of the basket, securing Washington’s narrow away victory.
The Mystics young core continues to impress early in the season: In addition to Citron’s career night, forward Kiki Iriafen put up 13 rebounds and a career-high 25 points, and Shakira Austin had 19 points in the win.
For Indiana, though, the star of the night was Clark, who put up her highest-scoring performance since June 14 of last year, when she also had a 32-point night. That’s just three points shy of her career high, further proof of the guard’s return to full form after missing significant time last year.
Still, Friday’s loss marks the second one-score loss for the team as the season gets underway. The Fever lost its season opener to the refreshed Dallas Wings, who picked up the three-point win in a high-scoring matchup.
Washington, meanwhile, has had two of its three total games head to overtime, after falling to the New York Liberty last weekend, but is able to survive this time.
Continue reading...
