It’s an unfamiliar feeling for the Washington Mystics, who have become accustomed to digging themselves out of a hole.
After a second straight home win Tuesday night, this time an 80-74 decision over expansion Atlanta, the Mystics (2-2) are playing .500 basketball for the first time since 2006 and talking optimistically about not what once was, but what potentially can be.
“It’s been a long time,” said Alana Beard. “It feels so good. We’re actually beginning to accomplish our goal. We wanted to win atleast three out of five games at home to start with. Now we’re two up.”
Beard (25 points, five assists), one of four Mystics starters to score in double figures, out-dueled Dream guard Betty Lennox (game-high 29 points, 6-for-7 from 3-point range) down the stretch, matching Lennox’s 14 fourth-quarter points with seven of Washington’s final nine, including five of six free throws to seal the victory at Verizon Center in front of 6,231.
After opening the contest with a 12-4 run, the Mystics found themselves 10 points down to the Dream (0-4) early in the second quarter. But thanks to a 23-5 rebounding margin in the second half and a 9-0 run over the end of the third and start of the fourth quarter, Washington went back on top, taking a 69-60 lead when Nakia Sanford (11 points, eight rebounds) was fouled on a putback. Her toughness was rewarded by a shove from Taj McWilliams-Franklin (19 points, nine rebounds).
“She just made me feel good,” said McWilliams-Franklin, “and I don’t do chest bumps so I just had to push her and let her know that’s what I’m talking about. Beat them under the basket, because that’s all hers.”
