Riding a six-game winning streak into another tilt at CareFirst Arena, the Washington Mystics defeated the Phoenix Mercury 95-75 for their seventh consecutive victory.
The Mystics led by as many as seven in the opening frame before a late Mercury run brought Washington’s lead to just one entering the second quarter.
Shakira Austin’s domination continued with eight points on 3-for-6 shooting. Phoenix’s 66% shooting from 3-point range kept them close despite six first-quarter turnovers.
Austin reached
double figures to open the second frame. Her bucket sparked a 14-3 Mystics run that ballooned their lead to 35-23 before a Phoenix timeout.
Sonia Citron and Michaela Onyenwere each drilled triples during the run as Washington threatened to blow it open.
Alyssa Thomas responded with a pair of buckets to bring Phoenix within six. But another Mystics barrage, behind six points from Cotie McMahon and another four from Austin, gave them a 50-37 halftime advantage.
Kiki Iriafen, who reached 1,000 career points on Sunday, doubled her first-half point total with a pair of buckets to open the third quarter and propel Washington’s lead to 17. Citron followed with a triple and a layup to put her squad ahead by 22 and force another Phoenix timeout.
Even Austin stepped behind the arc and drilled a 3-pointer — her 16th of the season — as the Mystics’ domination continued. They took a 73-51 lead into the fourth quarter.
Citron drilled three more 3-pointers and a 14-foot jumper to her final tally of 19 points, six assists and four rebounds on 7-for-9 FG. McMahon added 13 points, which marked the fourth time in her last five games that she’s reached double figures.
Austin finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds — her fourth straight game with at least 19 points and 10 rebounds — as Washington closed out a 95-75 win.
