“Tough game for us, but I thought our execution at times was very good,” Lacey said. “The rookies are getting better, learning to play at this level, learning what it takes to win at this level, so that certainly was a positive. Defensively we fought back and then at the end had some defensive breakdowns, gave them some wide-open looks.”
Forward Crystal Langhorne led the Mystics (1-5) with 23 points and nine rebounds, and the starting back court of Kelly Miller and Matee Ajavon combined for 27 points but committed 10 turnovers. Reserve rookie guard-forward Karima Christmas added 13 points in nearly 27 minutes, both season highs.
Washington just didn’t get enough, though, from starting forward Marissa Coleman, who finished with just six points, and starting center Nicky Anoskie, whose five points came at the foul line. Anoskie was 0 for 5 from the field in close to 35 minutes.
The Mystics shot 41 percent, their best in three games, but made just 3 of 16 from three-point range. Indiana (4-3), meantime, shot 55 percent, including 6 of 12 from beyond the arc, and erased an 11-point deficit at the end of the first quarter thanks in large part to guard Shavonte Zellous and center Jessica Davenport. Those reserves combined for 39 points, with Zellous’s 21 a season high.
Washington had built that 24-13 lead after limiting Indiana to 25 percent shooting and outrebounding the Fever almost two to one in the first quarter. The Mystics also shot 10 of 12 from the line in that period.
The game turned quickly thereafter, when the Fever went on a 12-0 surge in the second quarter, taking the lead, 29-27, on Zellous’s layup 5 minutes 34 seconds before intermission. Washington regained the lead for the last time when Langhorne converted a three-point play to make it 32-31 with 3:33 to go.
Indiana reeled off six in a row at that point and began the second half with eight consecutive points for a 50-39 advantage. The Mystics did whittle that margin to five with 5:43 left in the game, but the Fever got a clutch three-pointer from rookie guard Jeanette Pohlen that foiled the rally.
“It comes a lot from us not talking,” Langhorne said. “That’s part of our problem, and then a lot of it is we still have a lot of new people. We have a lot of rookies. It’s a lot of change, so I think it’s still taking time, and we’re going to keep getting better.”
The Mystics have three first-year players on their roster, including point guard Jasmine Thomas, who played 11 minutes and scored six points. Rookie forward Victoria Dunlap did not play.
In addition to incorporating new players into the rotation, the Mystics are without Alana Beard. The four-time all-star guard has been out all season with a left foot sprain, and indications are she won’t be back anytime soon.
“I think we’re definitely getting better, but we have to get key stops when we need them,” Christmas said. “We were up by plus-10, and we kind of let that go back. We didn’t get stops when we needed to, so that’s something we have to work on.”
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DREAM 71, SKY 68: Angel McCoughtry scored 14 points and newly acquired Courtney Paris had nine points and eight rebounds in Atlanta.
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MERCURY 105, SILVER STARS 98: Penny Taylor scored 30 points and Candice Dupree had 20 points and 13 rebounds to help Phoenix win in San Antonio.
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STORM 82, SHOCK 77: Sue Bird scored 21 points, Swin Cash had 17 and defending champion Seattle rallied on the road.
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SPARKS 96, LIBERTY 91: DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 27 points to help Los Angeles beat visiting New York.
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