Mabrey Leads Sun Over Mystics (8-31-24)
By: Jaden Golding
Headline Photo Credit: Arturo Jones-LMS Network
Washington D.C- The Washington Mystics lost to the Connecticut Sun 96-85, on Saturday afternoon at the St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena.
Connecticut (18-13) snapped the Mystics three-game winning streak.
Washington (9-23) now sits two games back of the final 8th seed spot to qualify for the playoffs.
Sun guard Marina Mabrey was huge for the team leading with 21 points off the bench and hitting five three-pointers in the afternoon. Four of her five three-pointers came in the third quarter, with three opening up the first three Sun possessions.
Connecticut did much damage from beyond the arc shooting 14-23 as a team. Part of the reason they took so many attempts is that All-Star Alyssa Thomas left the game at the beginning of the second due to a collision with Mystics guard Karlie Samuelson and did not return.
Center Stefanie Dolson hit an opening three-pointer in the third, tying the game 45-45. But the Sun took over the quarter, outscoring the Mystics 31-20, highlighted by an 11-0 after the Dolson basket.
Back-to-back three-pointers to start the fourth by Tyasha Harris and Veronica Burton gave Connecticut its largest lead of 20.
After Harris made a two-point field goal at the 8:24 mark, Washington would hit five three-pointers on their next five offensive possessions to trail only 86-79 with 5:37 remaining, unfortunately for the Mystics that is as close as they would get. D.C. went nearly four minutes without a field goal when Emily Engstler ended the drought with 1:40 on the clock. The game was all but over at this point with the Mystics trailing by 11.
DiJonai Carrington scored 17 points and was a +17 while on the floor. Brionna Jones added 12 points, and Tyasha Harris and DeWanna Bonner had 16 points each.
Ariel Atkins led Washington with 15 points, Dolson had 14 points and Engstler had 12 points off the bench.
The Mystics head south for a tilt with the Dallas Wings at 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Washington will look to get back in the W column to try and tighten the gap for the final playoff spot.
