Mystics guard/forward Tierra Ruffin-Pratt tenacious defense on Maya Moore was key in the Mystics much needed win over the Minnesota Lynx
All eyes were on the Mystics and how they would respond after being soundly defeated by the Indiana Fever in their previous game. Didn't help matters that the WNBA leading Minnesota Lynx came to town riding a three game winning streak. To put it simply, the Mystics came READY TO PLAY! In a total team effort led by the exploits of veteran guards Ivory Latta ( 20 points (7-14 FG), 3 rebounds) and Kara Lawson ( 15 points (6-11 FG), 4 rebounds and 2 assist) on offense and forwards Tierra Ruffin Pratt (10 points) and the Mystics x-factor Latoya Sanders (5 blocks and 8 rebounds) on defense, the Mystics knocked off the Lynx 77-69. Five players scored in double figures for the Mystics giving them a balanced attack to keep the deadly Lynx honest, however it was the defense, particularly the defense from Ruffin-Pratt on arguably the best player in the WNBA Maya Moore (12 points (4-15 FG) and 9 rebounds) that won the game for the Mystics. Stefanie Dolson (12 points and 7 rebounds) held her own against the Lynx three-time all star center Sylvia Fowles (15 points and 11 rebounds) in a key battle in the paint the Mystics needed to match. What was impressive was that Dolson got it done without her partner in crime, fellow first-time all star forward Emma Meesseman, who left the game with 1:30 left in the third quarter with a dislocated finger. Meesseman future status is uncertain. All in all it was the most complete game the Mystics have put together and with their next three games against the Lynx in Minnesota and a home an home against the Chicago Sky, the Mystics will need to keep this total team effort going if they are to secure a playoff spot in the tough eastern conference, where the top five teams are separated by 4 1/2 games with just around a month to play.
Kara Lawson played an amazingly efficient game finishing with 15 points and 4 rebounds with ONE turnover
Latta is thriving in her "spark plug" role off the bench, she torched the Lynx with 20 points on 7 of 14 shooting
Dolson (12 points and 7 rebounds) was huge in the second half in keeping Sylvia Fowles (11 points and 7 rebounds in the first half, 4 points and 4 rebounds in the second half) in check to help secure the win for the Mystics