"Mystics Still In Driver's Seat"

August 16, 2007 - Mystics, DeLisha-Milton Jones scored twenty-one points, while Alana Beard contributed nineteen in a heart breaking, down-to-the-wire 73-72 loss at home at the Verizon Center.

Janel McCarville, New York’s center scored 18 points while Catherine Kraayeveld added fifteen.

New York shot 58.6% in the first half compared to the Mystics 43.8%, but both teams tied in first half turnovers at six a piece.

“We didn’t play together in the first half”, says Coach Rollins. Sometimes we held the zone and sometimes we didn’t. We also gave up a lot of second chance shots.”

By the third and fourth quarters, respectively, the game had sixteen lead changes and thirteen ties; showing both team’s tenacity and desire to be the victor.

A foul by New York’s Janel McCarville had the two teams vying for a jump ball that resulted in a two point foul shot attempt by Alana Beard to put the Mystics ahead 64-63 in the fourth quarter.

Alana would later shoot a three pointer with .26 seconds left in the game to bring the Mystics ahead 72-71, but a foul by Monique Curry sent New York’s Shameka Criston to the foul line where she shot two of two giving New York the one point advantage, and eventually the win.

Tonight’s loss against New York puts the lady Mystics in a do or die position against their next opponent, the Connecticut Sun, if they are to fully secure a spot in the Playoffs.

New York plays Connecticut on Friday, August 17th, while the Mystics play them on Sunday, August 19.

“We’re not worried about the New York vs. Connecticut game,” says forward DeLisha Milton Jones. “We just have to worry about the Mystics playing Connecticut. We just have to regroup and handle our business accordingly.”

Says Coach Rollins on the Mystics chances of a Playoff berth, “We’re still in the driver’s seat.”

Mystics Highlights.

The Mystics defeated the Connecticut Sun on 8/14 at the Verizon Center, 61-60.

Alana Beard was recognized for scoring her 2,000th career point, while Coco Miller was recognized for having reached a milestone of five hundred career rebounds.