Game Recap: Aces vs Mystics Game 4

www.FranchiseSportsMedia.com

Aces vs Mystics Game 4

The Washington Mystics closed out the series and defeated the Las Vegas Aces 94-90. The Mystics were able to steal a game on the road and advance to the WNBA Finals for the second year in a row.

The Aces playoff journey was cut short, as the Mystics beat the Aces three games to one.

NBA stars Lebron James, Anthony Davis, and Kyle Kuzma showed their support of the WNBA players court-side.

The Mystics needed to score and disrupt the Aces defense in order to recover from their game 3 loss. At the top of the first quarter, Washington passed up open shots and left the paint open. The Aces were able to drive in the lane, leading to veteran Tamera Young getting three open shots.

Natasha Cloud was able to swiftly drive the ball up the court and make critical plays with and without the ball. Leading scorer Kristi Toliver was able to command the ball at the perimeter and deliver from the line. She ended the match with 20 points and 9 assists.

Scorers Aja Wilson and Kayla Macbride’s shots didn’t make it to the basket this night. Macbride, who shot 50% in the series, only shot 2-10 from the field. Head coach Bill Laimbeer called on the bench to make shots fall. The Aces bench fought back offensively going on a 17-4 run to close out the first quarter.

During the second quarter, The Aces blew a 10 point lead by missing open shots and allowing the Mystics to get their hands on the ball. Before stealing the game, the Mystics racked up 5 steals as a team. Washington played gorilla defense, forcing the Aces to turn the ball over 11 times.

Washington’s offense was fueled by the determination to close out the series. Aerial Powers was a big help off the bench adding 7 points and 5 rebounds. The Mystics went on a 16-4 run to trail the Aces by two at the half 45-43. Elena Delle Donne ended the half with 16 points and 3 rebounds to add to the Mystics offensive effort. Liz Cambage was active all night, making plays and shooting well from the floor, ending with 9 points and shooting 4-5. LaToya Sanders rolled her ankle with three minutes left in the third.

At the start of the third quarter, rookie Jackie Young and Liz Cambage helped Las Vegas tie the game 50-50, only for big shot Natasha Cloud to hit a timely three. Washington has the best free-throw percentage in the league. Kristi Toliver was able to draw fouls and successively make it to the line.

Aja Wilson’s shot didn’t get hot, scoring her first field goal with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Dearica Hamby’s effort doesn’t always appear on the stat sheet. Hamby executed on & off the ball, ending the game with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Kelsey Plum assisted Cambage in back-to-back 3-point plays, bringing the Aces within two. Tamera Young checked in the game to assist Hamby with an outside shot to put the Aces up 66-65. The Aces won the quarter leading by one 68-67.

The final period of the series began and the Mystics offense locked in. Washington ruled the perimeter, shooting 13-30 from the line. Sharpshooter Emma Meesseman was able to maneuver around her opponent and find open shots. Meesseman ended the game with 22 points. Liz Cambage backed down her opponent and floated to the rim. Cambage averaged 23 points in the series and that same effort showed up in the fourth quarter with 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Unguarded Tamera Young scored back-to-back points to bring Las Vegas within one with 3 minutes left, 85-84. At the two minute mark, the score read 89-88. Hamby had a chance to secure the game with a shot from the perimeter, but the shot didn’t fall. Both teams left it all on the court and competed in an exhilarating series that spectators enjoyed.

The Washington Mystics advance to the next round to face the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA Finals.

 

Aniea Collins

http://twitter.com/anieasports

Aces vs Mystics Game 4

http://twitter.com/thefranchiselv

http://facebook.com/thefranchiselv

http://instagram.com/thefranchiselv

 

Aces vs Mystics Game 4

 

Las Vegas Aces Las Vegas Sports