Sophia Young leads as San Antonio Silver Stars beat Washington Mystics 82-74 – WNBA Recap
Sophia Young scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds as San Antonio Silver Stars beat Washington Mystics 82-74 on Saturday night at AT&T Center.
“We are the veterans of this team," Young said "Whenever things are going down; we have to be able to lead the team. I think our team is looking for us to do that. Whenever a team trusts us and knows that, we are capable of leading
them that is important. That's what our team is developing into now."
It was second consecutive victory for the Silver Stars and fourth straight loss for the Mystics. The Silver Stars will face the league-best Minnesota Lynx in the opening round of the playoffs. The Mystics, on the other hand, concluded
the regular season with their worst record since going 3-27 in their inaugural season in 1998.
Young, who is in her sixth WNBA season, is the longest tenured player on the team, ended the game on 7 for 11 shooting from the field. Becky Hammon put together another gallant effort for San Antonio with 15 points and 11 assists
while Danielle Adams came off the bench with 14 points.
Matee Ajavon led Washington with 15 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Monique Currie added 14 points and four rebounds while Nicky Anosike ended the game with 10 points and nine boards for the Mystics. Jasmine
Thomas also scored 10 points in the loss.
The overall shooting of the Mystics was much better than the Silver Stars. However, San Antonio won the game on the back of combined team effort and a better floor game, dishing out 23 assists as compared to just 12 by the visiting
team. Washington shot 46.7 percent from the field, including 54.5 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from free throw line. The Silver Stars shot 45.7 percent from the floor, 30 percent beyond the arc and 75 percent from the line.
With a hope to close this season on a victory, the Mystics got off to a good start this time and carried a 41-34 lead at halftime. The Silver Stars came out with a better defensive plan in the third quarter outplayed Washington
23-17, cutting their deficit to just one, 58-57.
San Antonio controlled the situation early in the fourth quarter and went ahead by 61-60. Ajavon hit a shot from down town and put the Mystics ahead by 63-61. Hammon and Young then scored lay-ups and made it 65-63, but Currie
hit a pair of free throws and tied the game at 65. The Silver Stars scored the next 12 points of the quarter and carried a 77-65 lead for good. The Mystics did not get any closer than eight points for rest of the period.
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