The Washington Mystics lost to the Las Vegas Aces Saturday afternoon 96-93. Even though they couldn’t secure a win, they looked good their new Rise jerseys, which they wore for the first time this season.
First half notes:
Washington started the game off with 3 turnovers but where able to settle in shortly after. Natasha Cloud, who picked up 2 quick would in the first quarter, wasn’t able to score many buckets in the first half but made up for it with 9 assists.
.@T_Cloud4 with a great pass off the turnover to find @Mooks_22 much to EDD's delight pic.twitter.com/bZ7SCSwH9B
— Hoop District (@Hoop_District) June 5, 2021
Washington was led offensively by Myisha Hines-Allen with 10 first quarter points and a total of 21 points in the first half. Tina Charles and Ariel Atkins scored 14 and 11 points respectively.
Atkins was mic’d up during the first half. Check out the energy she gave her team below:
If you can't match Ariel Akins' energy... WE DON'T WANT IT #TogetherDC pic.twitter.com/rvOmbNl7ZU
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) June 5, 2021
The Las Vegas Aces came out hot thanks to Riquna Williams’s 12 first quarter points. Liz Cambage was unstoppable in the paint with 16 points and 6 rebounds in the first half. She was even caught laughing as she posted up Tina Charles for a bucket.
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) June 5, 2021
@ecambage // #ALLIN ♦️♠️ pic.twitter.com/9kQLIf8HBg
At the half, the Mystics led 57-56.
Second half notes:
The Mystics didn’t come out with the same energy as the first half but surprisingly were only outscored 22-18 in the third quarter.
Early in the third quarter Hines Allen caught Liz Cambage’s hand to the head and fell down.
Myisha Hines-Allen takes a shot and hard foul battling against Liz Cambage pic.twitter.com/Z03HI3huwE
— Hoop District (@Hoop_District) June 5, 2021
An offensive foul was called on Cambage and Hines-Allen subbed out. Hines did return to the court before the third quarter ended. Heading into the fourth quarter she had a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
The Mystics fought their way back in the fourth quarter with a 13-0 run. With 8.6 second left in regulation the Mystics were down 94-90 thanks to Kelsey Plum’s free-throws. With 3.9 seconds left Ariel Atkins launched a 3-pointer and made it, putting the Mystics down by only 1 point.
ONE POINT GAME pic.twitter.com/rLnWsqp4bo
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) June 5, 2021
With 3.1 seconds left in the game, the Mystics fouled Wilson, who then went on to make both of her free throws. Wilson then made a steal to secure a 96-93 win.
Hines-Allen finished with a team high 32 points and 11 rebounds. Atkins followed with a season and career-high 29 points. Tina Charles added 16.
For the Aces, Liz Cambage led with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Wilson also had a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Jackie Young and Riquna Williams put up 24 and 20 points respectively.
The Mystics next game is Tuesday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. ET against the Minnesota Lynx at home and it will be available to view on Twitter, NBC Sports Washington, and NBA TV Canada.