Topic overview
Briefly
- Mystics snapped a two-game losing streak with a 25-12 fourth-quarter surge.
- Sonia Citron recorded 21 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds in the win.
- Sparks lost their fourth straight game, falling to 12-22 on the season.
What happened
The Washington Mystics defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 80-70 on Saturday night in a WNBA regular-season game. The Mystics, who had won seven straight before losing two consecutive games to the Las Vegas Aces, bounced back with a strong fourth-quarter performance. Sonia Citron led the team with 21 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, while Shakira Austin contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds. Kiki Iriafen added 19 points and eight rebounds. The game was closely contested, with the Sparks holding a 58-55 lead entering the final quarter. However, the Mystics outscored the Sparks 25-12 in the fourth quarter, taking their first lead since halftime on an Austin layup with six minutes remaining. Citron's three-pointer with three minutes left extended the lead to 74-69, and the Mystics closed the game on a 9-1 run. For the Sparks, Rae Burrell scored 20 points, Nneka Ogwumike had 15, and Dearica Hamby added 11. The Sparks have now lost four straight and 11 of their last 13 games. Cameron Brink did not play due to rib injury sustained two days earlier. The Mystics improved to 20-14, while the Sparks fell to 12-22. The Sparks will visit Connecticut on Tuesday, and the Mystics will host Toronto on Wednesday.
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