Tina Charles, Crystal Langhorne, Tamika Catchings: WNBA Power Rankings from August 13 games – Pt 1
Three games took place in Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) on Saturday, August 13, 2011. Let us look at some of the best performances that dominated the night:
Connecticut Sun vs. Washington Mystics
Tina Charles
Tina Charles was the driving force behind Connecticut Sun’s comeback victory on Sunday. The 22-year-old tallied 16 points, including nine of them in the first quarter, in Connecticut’s 82-75 victory over Washington Mystics at Mohegan Sun Arena. Charles also had seven rebounds, two assists and two steals more than 33 minutes. The player shot 6 for 18 from the field and 4 for 5 from free throw line. Charles scored nine of her points in the first quarter.
Renee Montgomery
Renee Montgomery also added 16 points in the victory. The South Charleston High School’s product pinned 8 of 8 free throws and stole the ball twice.
Crystal Langhorne
Washington Mystics’ forward Crystal Langhorne scored a game-high 17 points in the loss. Langhorne also had five rebounds and a block. She went 7 for 10 from the field in around 25 minutes of action.
Marissa Coleman
Marissa Coleman also fought hard and ended with 14 points, six rebounds and a steal in the defeat. The player shot 4 for 7 from three-point range.
Matee Ajavon
Washington’s guard Matee Ajavon also contributed 14 points in the losing effort. The 25-year-old guard also dished out four assists and grabbed three rebounds. Ajavon, who was selected by the Houston Comets as the fifth overall draft pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft, pinned 5 of 6 free throws on the night.
Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty
Tamika Catchings
At Conseco Fieldhouse, Tamika Catchings played the best game of her WNBA career in Indiana Fever’s 82-71 victory over New York Liberty. Catchings tied a career high with 32 points and reached a scoring milestone in a 10-year WNBA career with Indiana.
Catchings’ jumper with 3:17 remaining in the opening period made her just the sixth league player to punctuate 5,000 points. The 6ft 2in small forward also became the first player in the league with 5,000 points, 2,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in her career. The player was 7 for 12 from the floor and set franchise records for free throw, pinning 17 of 19 free throws. Catchings also had three assists and three steals in the victory.
Catchings, who was the rookie of the year in 2002, has never been MVP, nor has won a WNBA championship, but her performances so far this season are certainly making her a clear choice for the Most Valuable Player. Fever coach Lin Dunn said of Catchings’ chances in annual MVP contest, "There is no doubt in my mind she's got all the credentials to be a WNBA MVP," "And she certainly deserves a ring."
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