Shakira Austin converted a three-point play with 12.8 seconds remaining to give the Washington Mystics their only lead of the fourth quarter in a 100-99 victory over the visiting Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday night.
Austin scored 25 points and Sonia Citron had 20 points with eight assists as the Mystics (14-12) celebrated their first meeting with the Aces this season by setting a season high for points in a non-overtime game.
They needed all that to withstand A’ja Wilson’s 38-point performance for the Aces (18-8). Jackie Young added 24 points and Chelsea Gray tacked on 19 points, but Gray missed the game’s final shot.
Las Vegas, which had won three of its previous four games, was aiming to reach the 100-point mark for its second game in a row.
Austin made 10 of 18 shots from the field. Lauren Betts posted 13 points off the Washington bench while teammates Kiki Iriafen (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Georgia Amoore (10 points) made key contributions.
Wilson, who made 12 of 16 shots from the floor and went 12-for-13 on free throws, reached the 30-point level for the eighth time this season.
Wilson scored the first seven Las Vegas points of the fourth quarter, with the final basket in that stretch a 3-pointer that expanded the lead to 85-78.
The Mystics used a 7-0 spurt to close within 91-90 on Austin’s short jumper with 2:25 to play. Gray responded with a three-point play, but Washington’s Michaela Onyenwere countered with a 3-point basket.
The Mystics were within 96-95 on two Citron free throws at the 43-second mark. Wilson restored the three-point margin with a pair of free throws, but Citron drove for a basket.
Wilson was good on only one free throw with 17.8 seconds to go to set up Austin’s go-ahead sequence.
Wilson had 15 first-half points, but the Mystics built a 46-45 halftime edge despite shooting 9-for-15 on free throws.
Jewell Loyd’s 3-pointer pushed the Las Vegas advantage to 78-71 at the end of the third quarter.
–Field Level Media
