Lynx Use Fourth Quarter Surge To Defeat Washington (7-6-24)
By: Jaden Golding
Headline Photo Credit: USA Today
Minneapolis, MN- The Minnesota Lynx took down the Washington Mystics 74-67 back on Saturday, July 6th at the Target Center. Minnesota (15-6) used a late push in the final quarter to win the first meeting of four against Washington.
Washington (5-17) entered the fourth ahead by two points. Alissa Pili hit an early three-pointer attempt to go ahead 58-57. At the 8:09 mark, Stefanie Dolson received an overhead pass from Shatori Walker-Kimbrough driving in the rack for a three-point play opportunity, Dolson went on to hit the free-throw giving Washington its final lead of 60-58. An 8-0 Lynx’s run, a little over a minute-in-a-half gave them a five-point lead. The Mystics could only cut the Lynx lead down to as close as three points in the six and five-minute mark. Myisha Hines-Allen made Washington’s last bucket with 1:26 left trailing 72-67. But empty offensive possessions and turnovers hurt any chance of Washington returning for the victory.
Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams led the way with 17 points apiece for Minnesota to help end their first two-game losing streak of the 2024 season.
Cecilia Zandalasini produced 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals off the bench, a nice efficient performance that aided the Lynx in its win.
Hines-Allen had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds for her first of the season. Washington had four other double-digit scorers in rookie Aaliyah Edwards (10), Ariel Atkins (15), Walker-Kimbrough (15), and Dolson (10).
Washington performed as they have all year, battling hard they trailed by double-digits in the first quarter and trailed by as much as 14 points by the second. But clawed their way back in the latter part of the second and third quarters.
The Mystics continue to struggle at times with four-quarter offense, as their sets and flow become stagnated which results in players sometimes doing too much at once on offense and missed opportunities.
