Mystics 78, Shock 66
By Jon Gallo
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Washington Mystics Coach Richie Adubato had one priority entering last night's game against the Detroit Shock at Verizon Center, and in case he hadn't made it clear to his players all week, he wrote it in bold, red letters atop the dry-erase board in the locker room: Rebound.
"The first thing we had to do against Detroit -- and I've been telling them all week -- is we must rebound and keep them off the boards," he said. "The key to beating Detroit is rebounding because no one in the league is better at it than they are."
But not last night. Washington's domination of the Shock around the basket was the difference, as the Mystics earned their franchise-record 18th victory by rallying for a 78-66 win in front of a crowd of 9,128. The win clinched the second winning season in Mystics history
"I think this is a defining game for us," Washington forward DeLisha Milton-Jones said. "We learned what kind of team we have because everyone came together and kept fighting until we won the game."
The Mystics (18-15), who have clinched the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, conclude the regular season tomorrow at New York before hosting the first game of their best-of-three series against the two-time defending conference champion Connecticut Sun on Friday night at 7.
Detroit (22-11) will play Indiana in the first round beginning Thursday at the home of the better seed.
Washington, which entered as one of the league's poorest rebounding teams, won the battle of the boards, 41-33, against the Shock, which entered averaging a league-high 37.9 rebounds per game.
Washington forward Nakia Sanford grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and added 11 points. Milton-Jones added a game-high 23 points and eight rebounds, and center Chasity Melvin recorded four points and six rebounds.
The Washington trio dominated the front court of Cheryl Ford (11 points, eight rebounds), Ruth Riley (eight points, two rebounds) and Swin Cash (10 points, seven rebounds).
Washington's rebounding led to offensive transition, its strength. Alana Beard scored 21 points and point guard Nikki Teasley added 10 as the Mystics won for the sixth time in eight games.
"It means a lot to set the record for most wins in a season," said guard Coco Miller, who finished with six points and four rebounds. "But what was more important was how we did it."
Trailing 37-33 at halftime, the Mystics took control in the third quarter. Milton-Jones hit two three-pointers and Beard added another to spark a 13-6 run that gave Washington a 46-43 lead with 4 minutes 53 seconds left in the quarter.
But that was just the beginning. Melvin muscled a short jumper over two defenders and after Katie Smith countered with a three-pointer, Milton-Jones converted a three-point play to push the lead to 52-46 with less than three minutes remaining.
"They just wanted it more than we did," Detroit Coach Bill Laimbeer said. "The difference was in the third quarter: They made shots and we didn't and that threw us off-track. When it wasn't going our way, some of our players put their heads down and just stood around and lost concentration."
Detroit mounted one last challenge by pulling to within 65-61 with 3:18 remaining, but Milton-Jones delivered the knockout punch by making a three-pointer from the top of the key over the outstretched arms of Ford with 2:23 remaining.
Washington shot just 21.9 percent in the first quarter (4 of 19) while Detroit made 10 of 17 shots to take a 26-12 lead.
But trailing 31-15 with 8:13 remaining, Washington got back in the game. Sparked by two three-pointers by Teasley, the Mystics finished the quarter on an 18-6 run to pull to within 37-33 at intermission.
"I don't think this sends a message to other teams going into the playoffs, but it sends a message to us," Beard said. "We needed to win a game like this going into the playoffs."
· FEVER 87, SUN 68: Anna DeForge had 20 points and Tamika Catchings added 19 as Indiana snapped Connecticut's 12-game winning streak. DeForge had four of Indiana's nine three-pointers.
The Fever handed the Sun just its third loss at home.
· LIBERTY 64, STING 62: Barbara Farris's put-back with 1.7 seconds remaining lifted New York to the home victory.
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