Washington Sweeps Dallas In Back-To-Back Games (6-24-24)
By: Jaden Golding
Headline Photo Credit: WNBA
Washington D.C.- The Washington Mystics swept the Dallas Wings this past weekend securing a blowout 97-69 victory on Saturday and closing out Sunday with a 92-84 win.
Washington (4-13) has now won four of its past five games, securing back-to-back victories twice.
Dallas (3-13) on the other hand, has dropped 11 straight contests and holds the worst record in the WNBA.
Game One: June 22nd
The Mystics were in full control after Dallas led 8-6 with 6:33 in the first quarter. Taking the lead for the rest of the game and not looking back.
Washington scored a season-high 31 points in the second quarter which helped them eclipse a double-digit lead.
Mystics forward Emily Engstler scored a career-high 23 points on 7-11 shooting from the field, 3-4 from three, and grabbing nine rebounds.
Stefanie Dolson finished with a 16-point – 10 rebound double-double.
Wings rookie Jacy Sheldon scored 16 points finishing with her best scoring performance of her young career.
Natasha Howard finished as Dallas’s leading scorer with 19 points.
D.C. turned 22 Dallas turnovers into 24 points of their own.
Game Two: June 23rd
Howard opened the gate with 16 first-quarter points, hitting two threes back-to-back on the opening possessions.
The Wings jumped out to a 41-31 lead after Arike Ogunbowale’s three-pointer with 6:46 remaining in the second. Washington clawed its way back into the game cutting the lead down to one at a point. But Dallas led 51-46 at the half.
Myisha Hines-Allen scored two quick buckets in less than a minute. Cutting back to one. Two Dallas free throws made it 53-50 until Dolson hit a 25-foot three-pointer tying the game. Washington turned up the offensive pressure outscoring the Wings 22-12 the rest of the quarter, leading 75-65 entering the fourth quarter.
Dallas couldn’t create any efficient scoring runs to overcome Washington’s lead. The Mystics traded points for points with the Wings to sustain its lead.
Dolson led with 18 points making four three-pointers and snagged 8 rebounds. Ariel Atkins and Hines-Allen scored 12 points each. Karlie Samuelson and Engstler added 13 apiece while combining for five three-pointers made.
Ogunbowale had a bounce-back performance dropping 23 points with five threes after a season-low six-point performance the night before. Howard once again was Dallas’s leading scorer erupting for 26 points, 8 rebounds, three assists, and a block.
Washington shot 49% from the field, 52% behind the arc, and 89% at the line as a unit. A highly efficient and effective day on the offensive end for the Mystics.
The Mystics host the Sun on Thursday at 7 p.m. looking to pick up its first win against Connecticut this season.
