WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 13, 2019)—The Las Vegas Aces fought back from a 15-point first-quarter deficit to defeat the Washington Mystics, 85-81, Saturday night in a battle for first place in the WNBA. With the victory, the Aces improve to 11-5—a game up on second place Connecticut (10-6), and a game-and-a-half up on Washington (9-6).
KEY RUNS
Washington scored 22 of the first 29 points of the game, holding the Aces to 3 for 13 shooting from the field over that span.
Las Vegas outscored the Mystics 27-16 in the second quarter, tying the game late, 43-43, but a Powers free throw with 10 second to go before the half gave Washington the lead heading into the locker room.
Neither team led by more than four points throughout the second half.
The game was tied at 75 following a Kristi Toliver pull up jumper with 1:47 to go in the game, but the Aces scored the next four points to take a lead they would never relinquish.
KEY STATS
Las Vegas outshot Washington from the field (42.9 to 38.9), the three-point line (33.3 to 25.0) and the free throw line (80.8 to 78.3)
Las Vegas outscored Washington 44-30 in points in the paint.
The Aces bench outscored the Mystics’ 26-12.
GAME NOTES
Aces streaks and statistics do not include the Las Vegas vs. Washington game from July 5 which was suspended at halftime due to an earthquake.
A’ja Wilson scored in double figures for the 48th time in her 49 games as a pro (17 points).
Kayla McBride scored in double figures for the 14th time this season (16 points).
Sydney Colson scored in double figures for the 2nd time this season netting a career-high 17 points.
Liz Cambage scored in double figures for the 47th straight game, which is the longest active streak in the WNBA (13 points).
The Mystics were without Elena Delle Donne (nasal fracture) who missed her second straight game.
The start of the game was delayed until 7:20 pm due to a malfunctioning clock.
Las Vegas is now 7-0 in games when it out-shoots and out-rebounds an opponent this season, and 19-1 over the last two years.
NEXT GAME
The Aces head back home this week for a brief rest before returning to the road Friday for a 7 pm PT tip at Seattle.