Down to the Wire. With New York edging out Detroit this afternoon on a buzzer beater by Erin Thorn, the pressure was on the Mystics to win in Sacramento tonight in order to preserve their already slim margin over the Libs for the last playoff spot in the East. Unfortunately, the Mystics lost a heartbreaker in overtime, 86-82, which means that their lead over New York has narrowed to a half-game entering the final week of the season.
The Mystics had the chance to win tonight's game in regulation when Mo Currie was fouled with 3.2 seconds left and the Monarchs were ahead by one point, but Mo missed one of her two free throws. With Sacramento stars Yolanda Griffith and Ticha Penicheiro not playing tonight, Nicole Powell stepped up big time, leading all scorers with 28, including 5 of 6 shots from behind the arc and a perfect 11 of 11 from the free throw line. Neither team was able to take care of the ball, recording a combined total of 55 turnovers.
The Mystics have three more games to play: two against the Sun, and one against New York, while New York plays the Sky twice and the Sun once, in addition to the game against the Mystics. So it's all coming down to the wire this week, with the Mystics' game against the Libs on Thursday taking on huge importance.
And with the Mystics' loss tonight, the best they can do this season is finish 17-17, and even that would require them to win out. Not quite the 10th Anniversary season that the BasketCases and other Mystics fans were hoping for.
posted by BasketCases @ 11:59 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
The Mystics MUST win at least one against Conn and MUST beat NY. We need to go to the playoffs if for no other reason than to break the "Odd Year Curse."
I've read some of the Msg boards, and as a former athlete, I just DON'T understand this sentiment to tank the season to get into the lottery. Don't know if its a generational thing, and gender thing, or just individuals; but my ethics would put you into the lowest class of humanity to intentionally tank a game. You play the season for the purpose of getting into the playoffs, not getting to the lottery. The lottery is for losers, IMO.
Also, rarely has a low draft pick by itself turned a team's fortunes around. Just ask Seattle (had LJ and Bird, but didn't win until they traded for Sam and Lennox), Phoenix, and Minn. Seattle had two back-to-back #1s and still stunk. This year will be DTs first trip to the playoffs. Minn is still in the toilet. Off season trades of seasoned vets usually has a greater impact.
Sorry if I'm just a little fired up. But NOW is NOT the time to give up on our team!!!
"Fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired that you wish your opponent would crack you one on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round-remembering that the man who fights one more round is never whipped."
---"Gentleman" James Corbett (bare knuckles boxer)
I know that you're in the middle of the Mystics playoff run...but I was just wondering if there was a road trip planned for when Maryland plays Rutgers on Dec 3 @ Rutgers?
Hi Kris,
We don't know anything yet, but it would make the BasketCases very happy indeed if the Rebounders organized a bus trip to Rutgers. We are also keeping our fingers crossed for a bus trip to the State Farm Tip Off Classic in Chapel Hill on Nov. 11 when the Terps face Oklahoma. And if there are no buses, we'll be gassing up the Terpmobile!
--BC
From what I've heard so far, there is no bus trip to Rutgers for the MD game. The reasons given to me were, it's too far and it's scheduled on a weekday. The "Rebounders" are waiting for the schedule to come out so, bus trip(s) can bee planned. Count on a game at UVA, though. A few of us are going to drive up to Rutgers for the game. Tickets are available Oct 1st. We're staying overnight.
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