Sonia Citron recorded 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Kiki Iriafen added 19 points and eight rebounds, helping the Washington Mystics secure an 80-70 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday night.
Shakira Austin added 17 points and 11 rebounds as Washington (20-14) won for the eighth time in the past 10 games. Citron was 4 of 5 from 3-point range and the Mystics piled up 60 points inside the paint.
Rae Burrell scored 20 points, and Nneka Ogwumike added 15 points, seven rebounds and four steals for Los Angeles (12-22), which lost its fourth straight game and its 11th in the past 13. Dearica Hamby had 11 points and three steals before fouling out.
Cameron Brink (ribs) sat out for the Sparks. She was injured in Thursday’s loss against the New York Liberty.
The Mystics outscored the Sparks 25-12 in the fourth quarter after Los Angeles took a three-point lead into the period. Washington shot 9 of 14 from the field in the quarter, while Los Angeles went 3 of 12 and committed six turnovers.
Overall, the Sparks made 39.3% of their attempts and were 9 of 26 from behind the arc.
Washington shot 47.2% from the field, including 4 of 21 from 3-point range, and held a 43-27 rebounding advantage.
Consecutive baskets by Lauren Betts and Austin gave Washington a 65-64 lead with 6:05 left in the contest. Citron added a mid-range jumper to make it a three-point lead with 5:22 remaining.
After Ogwumike sank a shot for the Sparks, Citron and Austin scored inside baskets as the Mystics took a 71-66 advantage with 3:44 to play.
Burrell converted a three-point play for Los Angeles before Citron buried a trey to restore the five-point edge with 3:09 left. Cassandre Prospect made two free throws with 2:29 remaining as Washington took a 76-69 lead.
Austin scored on a layup and later added two free throws, giving the Mystics a 10-point lead with 38.7 seconds left as they closed it out.
Erica Wheeler and Burrell opened the third quarter with consecutive 3-pointers and Los Angeles scored the first eight points and 13 of 15 to take a 52-43 lead with 6:55 left in the period.
Washington responded with eight straight points to move within one.
The Sparks led 58-51 after Burrell’s layup with 1:21 left before the Mystics pulled within 58-55 entering the final stanza.
Iriafen scored 14 first-half points as Washington led 41-39 at the break. Ogwumike had 10 points in the half for Los Angeles.
–Field Level Media
