Sport Recap: Mystics Fall to Aces at Dwelling – Washington Mystics

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Picture by Stephen Gosling/NBAE through Getty Photographs
The Washington Mystics fell to the Las Vegas Aces 91-81 on Saturday afternoon from CareFirst Enviornment.
After opening the sport on a powerful 23-8 run, the Aces managed to flip the script within the second quarter, outscoring the Mystics over the ultimate three intervals. Following the loss for Washington each groups would cut up the season sequence 2-2.
Here’s a recap from Saturday’s motion.
First Quarter
Washington opened with all 5 starters discovering the basket earlier than the halfway level of the primary quarter, fueling a 15-6 run to set the tone early. Kiki Iriafen made her presence felt straight away, recording 4 factors and 4 rebounds within the first 5 minutes. Her opening two boards pushed her previous Corridor of Famer Candace Parker for the seventh-most rebounds by a rookie in a single season. Out of an Aces timeout, the Mystics prolonged their result in 23-8, however Las Vegas responded with an 11-3 run to chop into the deficit. Washington held agency and closed the quarter forward, 26-19. Iriafen led the cost early within the opening body with 9 factors and 5 rebounds. A’ja Wilson paced the Aces with six factors. The Mystics dominated the paint to start out, outscoring the Aces 12-0 inside.
Second Quarter
Las Vegas took management within the second quarter, outscoring Washington 25-13 to flip the momentum. Dana Evans sparked the surge with a three-pointer to chop the deficit to 4, then drained one other simply over three minutes into the interval to tie the sport at 30. The Aces capitalized on the shift, utilizing a 7-2 run to seize their first lead of the evening, 37-32. Washington responded shortly, pulling even behind 4 factors from Shakira Austin together with free throws from Sonia Citron and Iriafen. Within the remaining two minutes, A’ja Wilson delivered for Las Vegas, scoring 4 of the staff’s final 5 factors to push the Aces forward 44-39 at halftime. On the break, Wilson led all scorers with 17 factors, whereas Iriafen and Austin mixed for 22 for the Mystics.
Third Quarter
Putting first to open the second half, was Citron, who buried a 26-foot three-pointer to spark Washington’s offense. Las Vegas answered with a 6-3 run, all from Wilson, however Citron stored tempo by pulling down one other from deep. The Aces constructed their result in 53-47, just for Washington to claw again with back-to-back buckets. Iriafen then pulled down her tenth rebound of the evening on the 5:25 mark, off a Jewell Loyd missed three, securing her 14th double-double of the season. Out of the following official timeout, Austin tied the sport at 53 with a layup off a Citron help. Evans shortly swung the momentum again to Vegas, exploding for 8 factors in simply 55 seconds to place the Aces up by six. The groups traded baskets down the ultimate minute, and the Mystics entered the ultimate body trailing 68-61.
Fourth Quarter
Las Vegas put the sport out of attain early within the fourth, opening the interval on a 6-0 run behind Jewell Loyd and NaLyssa Smith to increase the result in 74-61. From there, Wilson and Evans took over, combining for 15 factors within the quarter because the Aces maintained management. Defensively, Vegas stored Washington from slicing the deficit again to single digits, closing out a 91-81 win to increase their successful streak to 10. The Mystics completed with three gamers in double figures: Sonia Citron (13), Shakira Austin (18), and Kiki Iriafen (21). Iriafen additionally recorded a career-high 15 rebounds, marking one more standout efficiency in her rookie marketing campaign.
Kiki Iriafen led the Mystics with 21 factors, 15 rebounds, and three assists. She turned the second rookie in staff historical past to report a 20-point, 15-rebound recreation, becoming a member of Chamique Holdsclaw (1999). It was her 14th double-double of the season, tying Holdsclaw for the second-most in a season in franchise historical past. Iriafen additionally handed Breanna Stewart for sixth-most rebounds in a season by a rookie in WNBA historical past and sits 5 rebounds shy of the Mystics’ single-season report.
Shakira Austin added 18 factors, 4 rebounds, and three assists. She has scored 15+ factors in 11 video games this season and moved into fifteenth on the staff’s all-time rebounding checklist.
Sonia Citron completed with 13 factors and 4 threes. It was her thirty second double-digit scoring recreation, tying Candace Parker (2008) for fourth-most by a rookie in league historical past. Citron has hit a 3 in 12 straight video games, a brand new Mystics rookie report, and now has essentially the most video games with 4+ threes in a season by a rookie in franchise historical past (6).
Emily Engstler scored 8 factors off the bench and recorded a steal in her ninth straight recreation, the second-longest streak by a reserve in staff historical past.
Jade Melbourne had a team-high 6 assists and scored the five hundredth level of her profession.
Further Notes: Washington outscored Las Vegas within the paint 38-26. Alysha Clark made her first begin since August 2022. The Mystics recorded 21 assists (seventh time in final 8 video games with 20+), and tried 28 free throws, their league-leading twenty fourth recreation with 20+ makes an attempt.
Factors:
Rebounds:
Assists:
Washington will conclude its back-to-back weekend matchups at house vs. the Seattle Storm with tip-off at 3 PM ET.
Shakira Austin
Emily Engstler
Jade Melbourne
Sonia Citron
Kiki Iriafen
Washington Mystics
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