Monarchs defense blankets Mystics

Nicole Powell shoots over the Mystics' Monique Currie in the fourth quarter of Sacramento's 79-76 win. Photo by Keith Henry

by Keith Henry

WASHINGTON- It didn't look pretty at all for the home team. But it looked like the Washington Mystics would pull out another home win on June 11. However, the Sacramento Monarchs defense was much better in dealing Washington a 79-76 loss at the Verizon Center.

The first factor in the Mystics' fifth straight loss was turnovers. The Mystics committed more turnovers (19-15) while the Monarchs outscored them 27-14 off of those turnovers. That was the main difference in the game. The Mystics' Monique Currie said, "We didn't take care of the ball. We had 19 turnovers and we didn't execute down the stretch. (Sacramento's) defense dictated what we were trying to do and we weren't able to execute. We didn't take care of the ball."

Also, the Sacramento duo of Nicole Powell (28 points) and Kara Lawson (22 points) torched the Mystics (2-7) for 50 points combined. "They're our two hired guns," said Monarchs head coach Jenny Boucek. "Our post players did a great job getting them open. that doesn't happen easy because every team knows what they do. So, for them to get open looks continually says a lot about our post players."

It was the defense that made Boucek so happy after the game. "For us, defense is our lifeline. We don't function without defense. We might as well not even play. If we don't get down and dirty and defend. That is the very essence of who we are."

Nicole Powell said, "Actually we were disappointed when we started the game with our defense. And also in the third quarter with the Mystics' start. I think in the fourth quarter, we just tightened up. Every single person tried to come in and do their job."

The problem for the Mystics came in the fourth quarter when their shooting was not close to on target. The Mystics shot 25 % (4-of-16) in the critical fourth quarter as compared to a near 56% success in the third quarter.

Sacramento (4-4) took advantage of the Mystics' struggles by scoring the first seven points of the quarter. The duo of Powell and Lawson was responsible for six of those points during the run. Rebekah Brunson converted one of two free throws to give the Monarchs a 66-62 advantage with 7:09 remaining.

The Mystics came back again and took a 73-72 advantage on a three-point play by Taj McWilliams-Franklin with 2:56 left. However, the lead wouldn't last because the Mystics defense left Powell open again to convert a three-point shot to give the Monarchs the advantage for good at 75-73 with 2:04 left.

The Mystics had a couple of chances near the end of the game. With the Monarchs ahead in the final minute 77-76, a jump ball took place and the tip apparently went to a Sacramento player who chased it out of bounds. She went into the air in an attempt to save it and the referee ruled that it went off a Mystic and the ball belonged to Sacramento to the disapproval of the fans.

After Lawson buried a couple free throws, the Mystics had one more chance. But Nikki Blue took a little too long trying to find Laurie Koehn. When Blue found Koehn on the wing, she only had a couple seconds left to shoot and it went off the rim at the buzzer.