Let’s go through the latest week of Mystics basketball and hand out keys to the palace, guest passes, and lockouts.
The games in consideration for this past week were last Wednesday's win over the Dallas Wings and last Saturday’s loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Key to the Palace
Emma Meesseman
Key Stats: 21 ppg, 9.5 rpg
Meesseman attempted 13 or more shots in the past week and for each of her last three games. She also shot over 50 percent from the field throughout the week.
It’s a two-game sample, but these are the kinds of numbers that Meesseman is capable of doing on any night. Even though stats aren’t the be-all, end-all, Meesseman must continue to play like she did this past week as opposed to the way she was over the first few games this season.
Guest Passes
Tayler Hill
Key Stats: 13 ppg, 4 apg, 2 spg
The good news is that Hill remains a consistent scorer from the perimeter and made a combined 12 of 15 free throw attempts in the two games of last week. The bad news is that she has gotten a little cold from the three point line as she missed all six of her tries from deep.
Ivory Latta
Key Stats: 10.5 ppg, 2 apg
Latta may not be starting games, but she is definitely finishing them considering that she has played 21 or more minutes every game. She shot poorly (2-of-10) in the Dallas win but was better against the Lynx when she scored 13 points on 5 of 12 shooting.
Bria Hartley
Key Stats: 8.5 ppg, 2 apg
Hartley only averaged 11 minutes a game in the past week. But fortunately, she made the most of her time on the floor as she scored 11 points in the win against the Wings, and another six points last Saturday against the Lynx. I think her minutes are bound to increase sooner rather than later, so hopefully we can see similar rates of production in that 16-20 minute range.
Tierra Ruffin Pratt
Key Stats: 6 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.5 apg
Even though her shooting efficiency (2-of-9) left room to be desired, TRP did make a concerted effort to get to the free throw line. She scored eight points from the charity stripe last week.
All-in-all, TRP had a good week, but not a great one because her shooting efficiency wasn’t quite there.
Kia Vaughn
Key Stats: 3.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg
Vaughn has been a steady performer off the bench this season for Washington and continued to be that way this past week. I know that we have suggested that Stefanie Dolson may need to be benched — even if it’s just to send a message. However, it’s not like Vaughn is totally outplaying Dolson like ... Matee Ajavon was outplaying Tayler Hill back in the early part of the 2013 season.
Natasha Cloud
Key Stats: 6.5 ppg, 2 apg, 2 spg
Cloud scored eight points and made both of her three point attempts during Wednesday's game against the Wings but was not as good on Saturday vs. the Lynx.
Kahleah Copper
After a two-game absence, Copper returned and played 12 minutes last Saturday against Minnesota. She scored five points and dished two assists in the loss, which is solid production in just a short amount of time.
Ally Malott
After scoring a season high 10 points last Sunday against the Dream, Malott was scoreless in eight minutes during Wednesday’s game against the Wings. Still, she contribute in other areas such as rebounding and passing. Malott did not play during Saturday’s loss to Minnesota.
Locked out
Stefanie Dolson
Key Stats: 6.5 ppg, 4 rpg
Dolson committed four turnovers in the win against Dallas and she wasn’t effective against the Lynx’s low post defenders last Saturday. Unfortunately, she has to be locked out from the palace altogether for the second time this season.
Tianna Hawkins
Key Stats: 3.5 ppg, 1 rpg
Hawkins’ best performance came against the Wings on Wednesday when she scored five points on 2-of-4 shooting which included a made three pointer. However, Hawkins also committed five turnovers in just 17 combined minutes, which is enough to lock her out.
Too small of a sample size
Jamie Weisner didn’t play in either game last week.