By Kayte Ledbetter
The Dallas Wings (18-14) defeated the Washington Mystics (15-17), 97-84, on Sunday, August 20 to increase their win streak to three games and in each of the last three games, the Wings have won by double digits.
Coming off a 30-point performance against Connecticut on August 18, Arike Ogunbowale found her rhythm at Entertainment and Sports Arena, shooting 3-3 in the first six minutes of play. At the conclusion of the quarter, Natasha Howard had recorded 11 points on 4-5 shooting that included 2-2 shooting from three. Satou Sabally dished out five assists, tying a career high for assists in a quarter.
Natasha Cloud totaled 12 points in the quarter that included two made threes. Cloud was the solo Mystic to record more than one basket in the first quarter, recording four herself.
The Wings gained a ten-point lead in the second quarter after Maddy Siegrist sunk back-to-back baskets to open play. The Mystics responded with consecutive baskets of their own to cut the lead in half, but Siegrist single handedly rebuilt the lead, making another two baskets and a free throw. Her personal 5-0 run recorded the Wings’ ninth point in the first three and a half minutes, all recorded by Siegrist.
The first half was a total team effort by Dallas as all, but one player was on the board by the break, including Veronica Burton, Kalani Brown and Maddy Siegrist off the bench. The Wings were shooting 55.3% at the half, including six baskets from three on 50% shooting.
The half saw the Mystics down 10 points, as their offense was piloted by Cloud. Her 15 points accompanied 10 from Ariel Atkins, six from Brittney Sykes, five from Tianna Hawkins and 10 from the bench.
Despite a three from Crystal Dangerfield to open the third quarter, the Wings were held scoreless through the 7:13 minute mark, while the Mystics embarked on a 6-0 run during that span. With Dallas unable to get stops, Washington’s offense outscored them 15-9 at the five-minute mark and Wings’ Head Coach Latricia Trammell was forced to call two timeouts.
Teaira McCowan sunk a basket immediately out of both timeouts. Her basket after the second break provided an and-one opportunity and jumpstarted the Wings offense, as her basket kickstarted a 16-1 run for Dallas. Washington’s one point represented their lone point during a four-minute span. The run allowed the Wings to regain control of the quarter and win it 28-18.
The Wings were held to just two points through the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. Their first field goal of the quarter came at the 3:35 minute mark, when Veronica Burton sunk her second three of the afternoon. Back-to-back threes from Cloud and Hawkins found the Mystics just ten points behind the Wings, the closest they’d been since the four-minute mark in the third quarter, but a 6-0 Wings’ run allowed them to regain a substantial lead once again with just a minute and a half to play in the game.
The fourth quarter was the only one the Wings lost, as the Mystics held them to 13 points, a strong defensive effort, but one not substantial enough to close the Dallas lead.
Six Wings recorded double digits this afternoon, including two players off the bench, representing the second time this season that two bench players have recorded such numbers.
Ogunbowale totaled 17 points alongside eight assists this afternoon, representing her 14th game with 5+ assists. Howard and McCowan each recorded 15 points, with McCowan grabbing 13 rebounds to record her eighth double-double. At the conclusion of the game, McCowan’s eight double-doubles are tied for the 9thmost alongside Seattle’s Ezi Magbegor. Crystal Dangerfield recorded 14 points, grabbed three rebounds and provided two steals alongside Ogunbowale and Burton.
Off the bench, Siegrist’s breakout in the third quarter fueled an 11-point performance as she was an efficient 5-7 (71.4%) from the floor in nearly 11 minutes of action. Kalani Brown shot 100 % (6-6) from the free throw line for the second game in a row and finished with 10 points.
Satou Sabally recorded a team leading 10 assists, tying her career high, alongside nine points, six rebounds and three steals.
The Wings stay on the road, as they head to Minneapolis to face the Lynx at Target Center on Tuesday, August 22 with Coverage on Bally Sports Southwest Extra.