The Washington Mystics last night figured out how to play in the first half, offering a dazzling turnaround from one of the worst game-opening starts ever four nights ago. But after a strong first half, they nearly blew a 16-point lead before staggering to a 79-72 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars with clutch free throws in the final 41 seconds.
"We always hit a wall, kind of let things slip," said center Murriel Page after Washington had snapped a three-game losing streak. "But we organized ourselves and hung on."
Coco Miller scored 18 points to lead the Mystics to a 79-72 victory Tuesday.
(Joel Richardson - The Washington Post)
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A team-by-team look at how the 2003 WNBA season breaks down.
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There was a scary moment in the first half when Silver Stars forward Sylvia Crawley suffered a neck injury during a collision while scrapping for a loose ball. She received 15 minutes of delicate on-the-court treatment before being taken via ambulance to George Washington University Hospital. The Mystics called the injury a sprain and said Crawley would remain overnight for additional tests.
The Mystics (2-3), despite playing without injured leading scorer and rebounder Chamique Holdsclaw, led by 16 points, but after a jumper from forward LaTonya Johnson, they found themselves trailing with 8 minutes 20 seconds left.
Washington quickly regained the advantage for good, however, and stretched the margin to nine points on fine play from reserves Nakia Sanford (five points in nine minutes), Aiysha Smith (five rebounds, eight points in 25 minutes) and Jocelyn Penn (5 for 6 from the field), who had been signed as a free agent just two days ago.
"I was surprised at [rookie Penn's] comfort level," Mystics Coach Marianne Stanley said. "You ride that horse all the way to the derby."
Penn had been the ninth pick in the WNBA draft by the Charlotte Sting but was let go during the final cuts.
"I just relaxed, stayed poised and the points kept coming," Penn said.
San Antonio battled back behind 7-foot-2 center Margo Dydek and guards Marie Ferdinand and Jennifer Azzi. The Silver Stars trailed 72-70 with 41 seconds left. Then point guard Annie Burgess, shooting guard Coco Miller and Page ensured victory for the Mystics with free throws.
The game was physical from the start. Shortly before Crawley's injury, Azzi missed several minutes with an eye injury. With 4 minutes 14 seconds left before halftime, Washington small forward Stacey Dales-Schuman turned her ankle after scoring on a tough fast-break layup and did not return until the second half.
The crowd of 11,974 was anxious to see whether the Mystics could improve on that 14-point, first-half disaster against the Cleveland Rockers on Friday night. They could, and did, with Miller matching that total herself in the opening 20 minutes by hitting 6 of 8 field goal attempts and 2 of 3 free throws, and the team scoring 42 points.
For the last seven minutes before halftime, the Mystics appeared to take control, scoring 20 straight points with strong defense and an offense that scored in transition. Page was involved in much of the productivity, with two field goals and three free throws and a pass to a cutting Burgess that led to a soft layin.
Miller also was versatile during that run, with a runner and a 12-footer. As important in terms of momentum was her punching a defensive rebound from Dydek that Burgess caught and fed to Penn for a wide-open three-pointer.
"We got into a quick-shot scenario," Stanley said of the Mystics' fade in the second half. "It was one-and-done, and that helped their transition. We got great bench play."
