Washington Mystics vs Charlotte Sting game notes
June 28, 2005 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Charlotte Sting News Release
Tonight's game was the first overtime game for the Sting this season. It was the second for the Mystics who are now 2-0 in overtime in 2005.
- Dawn Staley connected on a three-point play with 6.9 seconds left, hitting a jumper and a free throw to send the game into overtime
- Washington shot 60.0% (3-5) in overtime while the Sting shot just 28.6% (2-7)
- Mystics center Chasity Melvin finished with 15 points, seven of which came in the overtime period.
- In 24 minutes off the bench, Sting rookie Janel McCarville recorded a season-high 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting along with a season-high seven rebounds.
- Tangela Smith finished with 13 points, nine of which came after halftime. She also finished with a season-high four blocks, the highest total by a Sting player this season. In the last two games Smith has averaged 14.5 points.
- The Sting did not connect on a three-point shot. This ended a 171 game streak for the Sting. The last time Charlotte did not record a three-point field goal was June 5, 2000 vs. Cleveland
- Tonight's game featured two of the top assist leaders in the WNBA. Entering the game Temeka Johnson was ranked first while Dawn Staley was ranked third. Johnson finished with eight assists and Staley finished with six
- The Sting held the Mystics to just 1-8 field goals to start the game which enabled them to build an early 8-2 lead. The Mystics connected on five of their next six shots to take a 13-5 lead. Washington was able to extend their lead to 15 in the first half. The Mystics finished the first half shooting 50.0% from the floor.
- Trailing by ten with 10:51 left in regulation, the Sting used an 11-2 run to cut the score to one with 6:20 remaining. Washington built their lead back to five with 40.0 seconds remaining before Sam hit a driving lay-up and Staley tied the game with 6.9 seconds remaining.
Charlotte Sting vs. Washington Mystics
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Post-game Quotes
Washington 66, Charlotte 61 (OT)
Sting Forward Tangela Smith
"We had an 8-2 run and we allowed them to catch up; we just lost our momentum."
"We had great momentum going into overtime, but we didn't let it carry over. We lost our fight in the end."
"This Thursday we need to go in with an open mind and stay positive; we need to believe in each other and believe in ourselves."
Sting Center/Forward Janel McCarville
"It was a very physical game and it frazzled us a little bit, but we certainly came back and showed some physical play of our own."
"We just need to take tonight and build off it. We know their sets and what they've done. Most importantly we know that our defense can play against them."
Sting Center Tammy Sutton-Brown
"We need to learn from tonight and not get ourselves in a deep hole like we did. It took a lot out of us to fight through tonight and try to come back and tie it up."
"I think the physical aspect will carry over since we will be playing in their house on Thursday."
STING VS. MYSTICS
Charlotte Post-game Quotes
Head Coach Trudi Lacey
"It was a gallant effort on our part, in terms of making a comeback. We exerted a lot of energy to come back and tie it. We held them to 17 points in the entire second half. Basically, in overtime it comes down to scores and stops. We missed some shots in overtime, and they got some easy looks, and that was really the difference in the game."
(on expending too much energy to make a comeback)
"We expended a lot of energy to get back into the game. But, I still feel like in overtime we had some good looks that we really should have put down. Washington is a very physical team; it was a very physical game. We played our hearts out to get back into the game, and we just came up a little short."
(on Janel McCarville's performance)
"It was a good night from Janel, and that's the type of minutes that we need from her. She had 11 points and seven boards. That's probably the bright spot in terms of her being able to get some playing time. We've got to have more of an inside presence in the post. We did a good job on the boards, I just think we've got to be more physical, and learn to play against other team's physicality."
(on Washington's offensive rebounds)
"They are long and athletic, and we had talked about being able to box them out and get some space. One of the things that hurt us was their guards, their quickness, picking up those long rebounds. I thought our turnovers hurt us, and our inability to score underneath the basket hurt us, too."
(on what she would do differently)
"We've got to learn to play more physical. We've got to have better ball movement and better space so we can get better looks. I think it might open it up for us."
(on what she said to the team)
"I commended them for their fight and their determination to come back and take the game into overtime. Now it's just a matter of finishing the game. We missed our first two shots in overtime, and Washington scored their first two. In overtime, usually the game goes to the team that can score first and keep the momentum going. It just didn't happen for us in overtime."
(on if this loss is more troubling)
"They are mentally tough. We've had other close losses this year. They continue to fight back, and I don't expect this to be any different. We've just got to bear down and take better care of the basketball and execute our offense down the stretch."
Washington Head Coach Richie Adubato
(On keys to the game)
"The first three baskets of the overtime period is what led to the win. I am very proud that we were able to reach back and get this win. We had to have mental toughness to win this game."
(On Charlotte's second half comeback)
"They executed their offense very very well and we didn't. If it wasn't for Temeka (Johnson) and Alana (Beard) executing on defense we would have lost the game. (Janel) McCarville and (Tammy) Sutton-Brown will rattle you on picks. They weren't dirty picks at all. They were very very effective."
Washington Forward Charlotte Smith-Taylor
(On returning to Charlotte)
"It feels like any other game. The first time was emotional but after a few games being here, I'm pretty used to it. I'm glad we were able to get the win."
(On keys to the game)
"I think late in the game we were able to execute offensively. After we hit our first couple of shots in overtime, you could see they got a little demoralized."
Washington Forward DeLisha Milton-Jones
(On Washington's first half success)
"The type of defense Charlotte plays consists of a lot of switching. This creates a lot of mismatches to our advantage. That is the main reason why we were able to shoot so effectively in the first half."
(On overcoming second half run by the Sting)
"I think it was our execution offensively. We were able to get great position deep in the paint. When a team gets position that deep either you will score or get fouled. Once Chasity (Melvin) scored those baskets in overtime you could really see a change in the momentum."
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