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The first-place Connecticut Sun (6-1) won their sixth game of the season against the Washington Mystics (4-2), 83-75. Connecticut defeated Washington for the second consecutive time this season. Each team entered the game with one loss under its belt, holding the top two places in the standings.
Washington started strong and led the Sun for a majority of the first and second quarters. The Mystics ended the first half with a 37-33 lead on the road against the Sun. The two teams scored off the fast break, shot the three well and relied on their defense to create offense.
The Mystics may have led for the first and second quarters but Jonquel Jones and Courtney Williams rallied the troops for a come-from-behind win. The Sun raised the defensive intensity and chased the Mystics off the three-point line, limited Elena Delle Donne’s shots and forced other Mystics’ players to score.
Jones led the Sun in scoring with 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Williams added 23 points and Shekinna Stricklen scored 12.
Jonquel Jones finds her groove en route to 24 PTS, 7 REB & 2 BLK in the @ConnecticutSun win! #WatchMeWork pic.twitter.com/IxEgXrlNvf
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 12, 2019
Over the last three games, Washington has been able to space the floor and kick it to the open shooter but the Sun did an excellent job of switching on screens and going over picks.
The Sun also shot 47 percent from the floor compared to the Mystics’ 40.8 percent. Not to mention, the Sun sank 10 three-pointers.
IT WON'T STOP. @strick40 is 4-for-6 from beyond the arc with no sign of stopping. The Sun have pushed their lead to 11, 77-66. pic.twitter.com/WLzuksKsNU
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) June 12, 2019
Rebounding from a scoreless night on Sunday, Ariel Atkins had a strong 18-point performance for the Mystics, shooting 7-of-13 from the floor. Delle Donne scored a quiet 13 points while Natasha Cloud added 12 points and Aerial Powers scored 14.
Clearly, Delle Donne is working her way back to 100 percent but in order for the Mystics to beat top teams, they need a stronger performance from their star and also from veteran in Kristi Toliver who only scored four points in this outing.
ATKINS AND 1 pic.twitter.com/oMATegMH7k
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) June 12, 2019
The Sun outran the Mystics in the second half, for the win. The two teams face each other again on Saturday, June 29, at 2 p.m. ET.
Next up for the Mystics
The Mystics will be at home for their next game to take on the defending champion Seattle Storm on Friday, June 14, at 7 p.m. ET. Watch the game on NBC Sports Washington or CBS Sports Network.
Next up for the Sun
The Sun will take on the Minnesota Lynx on the road on Friday, June 14, at 8 p.m. ET. Watch the game on WNBA League Pass, FOX Sports Go or NESN.