Washington Mystics beat Las Vegas Aces to take 2-0 lead in the other semi-final series
Friday 20 September 2019 08:00, UK
Jonquel Jones scored 27 points and Courtney Williams added 25 to help the Connecticut Sun rout the Los Angeles Sparks 94-68 on Thursday night and take a 2-0 lead in the WNBA semi-finals.
Jonquel Jones scored 27 points and Courtney Williams added 25 to help the Connecticut Sun rout the Los Angeles Sparks 94-68 on Thursday night and take a 2-0 lead in the WNBA semi-finals.
Jones and Williams got the Connecticut Sun going in the third quarter and the team never looked back.
"I think we brought a different type of energy. LA came out and hit us in our mouth," Williams said of the Sparks' early lead. "You know we had to come out and withstand their runs, stay mentally strong. We know basketball is a game of runs. We went on our run and kept our foot on the gas."
The Sun led by one at the half before Williams helped blow the game open. She scored 13 of her points in the third quarter to the delight of her dad, Don, who was courtside wearing her No 10 jersey.
Connecticut led 70-57 after three quarters and scored 10 of the first 12 points in the fourth to dash any hopes Los Angeles had of a comeback. Sparks coach Derek Fisher pulled his starters with 5:31 left and his team down 23 points.
Riquna Williams added 14 for the Sparks, who will have to win three straight games to make the WNBA Finals for the third time in five years.
The 29 rebounds by Connecticut in the first half broke the WNBA playoff mark for a half. Four teams held the previous record of 28, most recently the 2017 Mystics. Connecticut finished the game with 46 to Los Angeles' 24.
Emma Meesseman tied a career high with 30 points in her second consecutive exceptional performance as the Washington Mystics defeated the Las Vegas Aces 103-91 to take a 2-0 lead in their WNBA semi-final series.
"It's easier to take my shot when it goes in," said Meesseman, who hit 5-of-7 attempts from three-point range. "I know that when you kind of have the hot hand, just keep shooting. That's what I did."
Natasha Cloud added 18 points and 11 assists for Washington, while Elena Delle Donne scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds on the day she received her second MVP award.
The Mystics can wrap up the best-of-five series and seal a return to the WNBA Finals on Sunday in Las Vegas.
Liz Cambage had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Aces, who have lost four of five meetings against the Mystics this year between the regular season and playoffs.
Kelsey Plum added 19 points and 10 assists for Las Vegas, who fought back from an 11-point second-quarter deficit to take a brief lead in the third, only to fade late.
Washington took control with a 10-0 run in the third quarter.
Meesseman hit a three-pointer on Cloud's kickout, then fed LaToya Sanders for a lay-up that resulted in a three-point play. Cloud then found Kristi Toliver for another triple, before Delle Donne hit a free throw to make it 75-64. The Aces got no closer than eight afterward.
Delle Donne accepted her MVP trophy from league commissioner Cathy Engelbert at halfcourt prior to tip-off.
During the 2019 season, Delle Donne became the first player in WNBA history to shoot over 50 per cent from the field, over 40 per cent from three-point territory and over 90 per cent from the free throw line.
