Shakira Austin scored 28 points and added 10 rebounds as Washington Mystics extended their winning streak to four games with an 81-75 win over the Dallas Wings on Friday at CareFirst Arena.
A balanced scoring attack gave Washington a 24-12 lead after the opening frame. All-Stars Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen combined for 11 points, and Austin added eight more while 4-for-6 from the field.
Arike Ogunbowale got hot in the second quarter, scoring seven of her 14 first-half points in the final minutes
of the half. Austin outdueled the talented Dallas guard with 19 points of her own to give Washington a 38-35 halftime advantage.
After a quiet first two quarters, Paige Bueckers came alive in the third. The former No. 1 pick scored 12 points, including consecutive triples, as Dallas remained in striking distance.
Behind Austin’s 23 points and eight rebounds, the Mystics took a 59-55 lead into the fourth quarter in search of their fourth straight victory.
Washington missed its first four shots of the final frame before Georgia Amoore settled things down with a 16-foot jumper. Citron added a layup as the Mystics’ lead blossomed to six points.
With the lead down to three, Cotie McMahon was shitled for a Flagrant I foul, which sparked a mini 4-0 Wings run to retake the lead. The sides traded blows from there.
Ogunbowale started things with another 3-pointer before Iriafen answered with her own three-point play. Then Azzi Fudd and Iriafen traded buckets as the Mystics led 69-68 entering the final four minutes of regulation.
The Mystics dominated the glass down the stretch, with an offensive-rebound-filled possession ending with a pair of Austin free throws to give them a 75-73 lead with 1:21 left. Citron added two more free throws to double her team’s lead with 24 seconds remaining and Dallas in need of some clutch buckets.
Bueckers scored quickly before the Wings intentionally fouled Citron, who calmly knocked down another pair with 10.8 seconds remaining. After a defensive stand, Iriafen, who finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, added two more at the line as the Mystics improved to 16-12 on the season.
