The Chicago Sky Spoiled the Mystics' home opener tonight, beating Washington, 84-77.
The Mystics dug themselves a very deep hole in the first half, allowing the Sky to score 51 points (to Washington's 33). Ouch. And while the Mystics put on a ferocious charge during the second half -- narrowing the gap to a single possession -- they just could not get over the hump and now drop to 1-2 on the season.
Matee Ajavon (one of the trio who had BIG games in Atlanta on Thursday) had another BIG game tonight. The relentless Matee led all scorers with 24 points in the losing effort. Kelly Miller and Crystal Langhorne put up 15 and 14 points, respectively. And Marissa Coleman finally broke out of her slump, scoring 13 points -- all in the second half. Marissa was a major contributor to the Mystics' not-quite-but-almost-comeback.
While the second half of tonight's game was exciting, it might be better to see a little more defense early in the games, even if it means a little less drama down the stretch. In the first half of their three games so far this season, the Mystics have given up 45, 47, and 51 points, respectively. That's just too many! If they are going to win more games than they lose this summer, the Mystics need to turn up the heat defensively on their opponents . . . well before halftime.
A final comment: before tonight's game, the Mystics unveiled their 2010 Eastern Conference Regular Season Championship banner. It was a bittersweet moment for the BCs. We were there last season, just as we were for each of the prior 12 seasons. And we cheered for the team that earned that banner. We were thrilled for the players for that franchise-record-setting accomplishment. And we were happy for the longtime fans, like us, who had supported this team through thick and thin. But as we watched the spotlight illuminate the new banner tonight, we could not forget that the two people who led the Mystics to that great success, Angela Taylor and Julie Plank, were not there to celebrate as well. And that . . . well, it made us profoundly sad.
The Mystics dug themselves a very deep hole in the first half, allowing the Sky to score 51 points (to Washington's 33). Ouch. And while the Mystics put on a ferocious charge during the second half -- narrowing the gap to a single possession -- they just could not get over the hump and now drop to 1-2 on the season.
Matee Ajavon (one of the trio who had BIG games in Atlanta on Thursday) had another BIG game tonight. The relentless Matee led all scorers with 24 points in the losing effort. Kelly Miller and Crystal Langhorne put up 15 and 14 points, respectively. And Marissa Coleman finally broke out of her slump, scoring 13 points -- all in the second half. Marissa was a major contributor to the Mystics' not-quite-but-almost-comeback.
While the second half of tonight's game was exciting, it might be better to see a little more defense early in the games, even if it means a little less drama down the stretch. In the first half of their three games so far this season, the Mystics have given up 45, 47, and 51 points, respectively. That's just too many! If they are going to win more games than they lose this summer, the Mystics need to turn up the heat defensively on their opponents . . . well before halftime.
Next up for the Mystics: a rematch with the Connecticut Sun on Thursday at the Verizon Center. Washington lost to the Sun on the road last Sunday in the season opener. Thursday's game will give the Mystics an opportunity to avenge that loss and even their season record.
A final comment: before tonight's game, the Mystics unveiled their 2010 Eastern Conference Regular Season Championship banner. It was a bittersweet moment for the BCs. We were there last season, just as we were for each of the prior 12 seasons. And we cheered for the team that earned that banner. We were thrilled for the players for that franchise-record-setting accomplishment. And we were happy for the longtime fans, like us, who had supported this team through thick and thin. But as we watched the spotlight illuminate the new banner tonight, we could not forget that the two people who led the Mystics to that great success, Angela Taylor and Julie Plank, were not there to celebrate as well. And that . . . well, it made us profoundly sad.
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