The Washington Mystics (13-13) defeated the Atlanta Dream (15-9), 77-67 at home Sunday in their annual breast cancer game. This gives the Mystics a four game win streak, while the Dream is now on a four game losing streak.
Ivory Latta led the way for D.C., scoring 21 points and adding 6 assists in the contest. Given that she had a breast cancer scare earlier this season, it was fitting that Latta had a big performance for the fans today.
In the fourth quarter, both she and Kara Lawson combined for 15 of the Mystics' 18 points in the period. The most critical point came when Law five straight unanswered points, including a mid range jumper with 3:47 left, and a three point shot once again with 2:20 left in the game. At that point, the game was decided.
Much of the first half was a relatively even affair, though the Mystics did lead by as many as 8 points at certain points. This included an 11-2 stretch in the last 3:19 of the first quarter when the Mystics turned around a 12-11 deficit into a 22-14 lead heading into the second.
In addition, to Latta, who has been playing like ... Ivory Latta as of late, the Mystics got major contributions from the bench, most notably with Lawson who ultimately scored 14 points off the bench, and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt who added 13 more points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field. The Mystics also got to the free throw line at a much higher rate than the Dream, where they went there 22 times as opposed to ATL's 10.
Statwise for Atlanta, Sancho Lyttle led their scorers with 19 points, while Angel McCoughtry and Tiffany Hayes added 12 each.
The Mystics head on the road for a two game road trip, first against the New York Liberty on Tuesday. The Dream's next game is a Tuesday home matinee against the Connecticut Sun.
I think it's Swish Appeal tradition now, but Mike Thibault's press conference is embedded above, or click here if you can't see the embed above.