WNBA Washington Mystics

Mystics Update

July 25, 2011 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Washington Mystics News Release


Mystics Recap:

On July 20th, with over 13,000 fans in attendance at Verizon Center for the team's annual Camp Day, the Washington Mystics fell in a close game to the Atlanta Dream, 86-79. Despite losing by seven, the Mystics tied up the score 17 times during the game. The Mystics won the first and third quarters, but they couldn't stop the scoring from Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry. The Dream forward had a career-high 33 points, shooting 56% from the field and 2-for-3 from three-point range. For the first time this season, forwards Alison Bales and Sandora Irvin finished in double figures in rebounds. In her first game in Washington, D.C. after two seasons with the Mystics, Dream point guard Lindsey Harding scored 14 points. Leading the way for Washington was Mystics forward Crystal Langhorne. She was 10-for-18 from the field, with 24 points and 10 rebounds, her fourth double-double of the season. At center, Nicky Anosike had five points, but recorded a season-high of 14 rebounds and added four steals in the game. Marissa Coleman gave a strong offensive effort with a career-high of 21 points in the game. From the bench, Jasmine Thomas scored 10 points in 20 minutes of play. Point guard Kelly Miller recorded a season-high six assists. The Mystics are now 3-11.

Open Mic:

WASHINGTON MYSTICS HEAD COACH TRUDI LACEY:

Overall thoughts on the game:

"Tough loss for us, again we played really hard, we built a lead then did a 360. We really made a mental error; Angel McCoughtry made a three and brought it back even. But down the stretch, we are learning to win close games but the last four minutes we just did not do a good job of boxing out, something that we had a talk about and just the last four minutes we didn't do anything. We played good defense and got offensive rebounds. [Alison] Bales, [Sandora] Irvin had six rebounds and we fouled way too much. They score 21 points off the free throw line and those types of things can't happen in a close game. We are still learning to execute at the end of games and we will continue to work and get better at it."

Game of the Week: Washington Mystics vs. New York Liberty, Thursday, July 28th, 7:00 p.m.

This Thursday, the Washington Mystics head north to the Prudential Center to play the New York Liberty. This will be the first in-season matchup with the Liberty since the Mystics defeated them in the preseason, 60-57. New York is currently ranked third in the East. Former Rutgers teammates, Mystics Matee Ajavon and the Liberty's Essence Carson will be a matchup to keep an eye on. Lead Liberty scorer, Cappie Pondexter is averaging 17.2 points per game while Mystics Crystal Langhorne is averaging 18.4 points per game. The Liberty are 5-3 on their home court, but will they be able to hold back the Mystics, who are coming off a tough loss to the Atlanta Dream this past week'

All-Star Status:

Mystics forward Crystal Langhorne was selected as an Eastern Conference reserve for this year's WNBA All-Star Game. Langhorne scored five points, grabbed six boards, and dished out two assists in 22 minutes of play as the East defeated the West 118-113 on July 23. Langhorne is averaging a career-high 18.4 points per game and grabbing 8.1 rebounds per game during the regular season.

Calling on Coleman:

Mystics forward Marissa Coleman had a career high performance in the Washington Mystics annual Camp Day game in front of a crowd of 13,954 on July 20 against the Atlanta Dream. Coleman scored a career high 21 points, shooting eight from the field, also a career high. Coleman tied her career high of 14 field goal attempts. Coleman also scored 5-for-8 from three point range, with five attempts a new career high. Four of her five attempts were scored in the second half.

DeMya Walker Added to Roster:

Forward DeMya Walker has been added to the team's roster while rookies Ta'Shia Phillips and Karima Christmas were waived. Walker spent the 2010 and part of the 2011 season with the Connecticut Sun. As a member of the Sacramento Monarchs, Walker was key in helping the team capture the 2005 WNBA Championship. She spent her first two seasons in the WNBA with the Portland Fire. Walker's career averages include 7.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. A 6'3 standout from the University of Virginia, Walker holds the top four spots in the Virginia record books for blocked shots in a season and is the school's all-time leader in career field goal percentage (.557).

Check out the Washington Mystics Statistics



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 25, 2011


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