HINES-ALLEN GOES FOR 16 IN D.C. WIN
Positive stories in 2020 haven't been very plentiful lately, but Myisha Hines-Allen is rapidly becoming one.
Things started well for Hines-Allen and DC, jumping out to an early 26-20 first quarter lead. The Mystics were hustling, Hines-Allen one of three Mystics who had a steal in the first ten minutes. F
Fifth-year player Aerial Powers was having a big night for the defending WNBA champs also. Powers ended up leading the Mystics with 27 points.
Connecticut, however, wasn't ready to head back to their bus and leave the sound-stage this early. The Sun got hot and, aided by nine DC turnovers and 13 fouls, gained a 52-48 lead as the teams reached halftime.
The Mystics needed a big start to the third quarter and they got it. Back-to-back threes from Powers and Hines-Allen early in the quarter pushed Washington to a 59-56 lead and DC still was up 76-71 as the third quarter ended.
Using the "if it worked once - let's try it again" philosophy, Washington came out hot again to start the fourth quarter and built the lead to 15. The Sun was not ready to go down yet, though and behind DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas battled back to get within two with 30 seconds to play. DC got a bit of luck when Thomas missed a layup to tie it and the Sun was slow to foul Washington's Leilani Mitchell who came up with the loose ball. She eventually hit a free throw and a late bucket gave Washington the five-point victory. Hines-Allen was a force from the opening tip....taking the defenders off the dribble, working the inside-out game well, getting steals, nailing threes and leading the Mystics in rebounding. Back in her Louisville playing days, we used to tease Myisha that she was really a guard trapped in a power forward's body. Maybe we had something there...
Washington is now 2-0 and returns to action Thursday night when they'll face Seattle in a 6 p.m. match. ESPN will have the contest.
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Wednesday Night WNBA actions features three more Cardinals in back-to-back games.
Angel goes against her old teammates in the 10 p.m. showdown and this one will be on the CBS Sports Network as well. You may want to catch a nap this afternoon so you can stay up for both these televised games that feature Louisville WBB Cardinal greats.
Have a wonderful WNBA Wednesday!
paulie
xxxxx
The Atlanta vs Angel should be a good one. Remember, also, that Nikki Collen is the head coach at Atlanta now and her husband Tom coached Angel for two years at Louisville. Nikki had been an assistant but was moved to radio duties in Collen's final years at Louisville.
ReplyDeleteI can remember listening to some of those games on radio in Angel's first two years but not being thrilled with Nkki' negativity on the broadcasts.
There were also rumors that Angel wasn't the biggest fan of the Collens' but that was never verified that I know of.
Kick butt tonight, Angel and also New York!
Nick O
All I'll say is thank goodness the Collens moved on and the Cards got Walz and A.J. went to radio.
DeleteI got a real nasty e-mail from Nikki Collen years ago when I wrote a pretty negative critique on her "color commentary" abilities.
You're right Nick. She wasn't exactly sunshime, lollipops and rainbows.
paulie
xxxxx
Hey.
ReplyDeleteBeen sick as a dog with some intestinal bug the last few days, so been off work and just trying to keep something down. Horrible. I hope I can watch the girls tonight but I'm wiped out.
Curtis "be kind" Franklin