Matee Ajavon leads Washington Mystics to a 91-81 victory over New York Liberty – WNBA Recap
Matee Ajavon tied a career best with 32 points as Washington Mystics snapped their four-game losing streak with a 91-81 win over the New York Liberty on Saturday night at Verizon Center. The victory also snapped two-game winning streak of the Liberty, who are third in the Eastern Conference with a 12-9 record.
Ajavon also dished out five assists and stole the ball twice. The Mystics guard shot 10 for 16 from the field, including 2 for 5 from three-point range, and 10 for 11 from free throw line. Crystal Langhorne scored 20 points, grabbed a game high nine rebounds and had three steals in the victory. Langhorne went 7 for 13 from the floor and 6 of 6 from the line. Kelly Miller also had 10 points, three assists and two steals for the Mystics, who have won just two of their previous 10 games.
Five New York players reached double figures on the night. Cappie Pondexter led Liberty with 21 points on a 7 for 15 shooting from the field and dished out seven assists. Plenette Pierson had 20 points, three assists, two steals and two blocks while Nicole Powell ended with 13 points, four rebounds and two steals for New York. Quanitra Hollingsworth and Essence Carson came off the bench with 11 points each for Liberty, who have lost four of their previous ten games.
Washington shot 50 percent (29 for 58) from the field and 96.6 percent (28 for 29) from free throw line. New York, on the other hand, shot just 43.9 percent (29 for 66) from the floor and 100 percent (18 for 18) from the line. Washington also grabbed 32 rebounds as compared to just 20 by New York.
New York scored the first six points of the first quarter, but Washington then took control of the contest and held 20-14 lead late in the first frame. Carson hit a pair of free throws and Phillips drove to the rim to cut the Mystics’ lead to two with 57 seconds to go but Washington responded with six straight points to take a 26-18 lead into the second.
Washington opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run and stretched their lead to 16 points, 36-20. New York fought during the last seven minutes but only managed to trim the deficit to 12, 50-38, at halftime.
Mystics limited Liberty to 15 points in the third quarter and widened their lead 70-53, heading into the last quarter. Trailing by 17 points after three, New York did not get any closer than nine points in the fourth quarter and Washington sealed their fourth victory of this season.
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