Storm unable to complete the comeback in 71-65 loss to Mystics

For Storm head coach Noelle Quinn this season is about playing hard and learning from your mistakes.   Against the Mystics on Sunday afternoon the Storm played hard improved their ball handling and defensive rotations but still lost to the Mystics for the second time in two days. In Friday night’s loss to the Mystics, the Storm played hard but lacked ball movement and the absence of  Jewell Loyd played a big factor.

 With the backdrop of the pending Sue Bird retirement Jersey celebration after the game Loyd was in the starting line and so was rookie Jordan Horston for  Mercedes Russell.  In the last three games, Horston has scored double figures for the first time in her WNBA career. Her ability to rebound has been a  bonus and something the Storm knew she had in her game.

 SETTING UP FOR ANOTHER COMEBACK

A torrid field goal shooting percentage saw the Mystics jump out to a  22 to 10 first-quarter lead. The Mystics scored the first five points of the game and the Storm quickly answered with a 7-0 run that saw them take the lead at 5-7. The lead was short-lived as the  Mystics outscored the Storm 17- 3 and lead 22-10 after the first quarter. Storm struggles continued in the second as they were outscored 24 -11.

  Lack of movement on the offensive end led to indecision and lethargic execution and a 0-11 shooting drought. The Mystic had no such problems. A  20-0 scoring streak by the Mystics saw them enter the halftime break with a 46-21 lead.

CHIPPING AWAY AT THE LEAD

 Despite the deficit, the Storm stayed true to form by playing hard on both ends of the court . A 6-0 run to begin the third quarter gave the team some hope down 46-27 at the 8th-minute mark in the third quarter.  Another Mystic run outscored the Storm 17-15 to end the quarter and were in pole position to start the 4^th quarter at  63-42.

CLOSE BUT NOT ENOUGH

 A resilient  Storm squad kept chipping away at it with 17 consecutive points while forcing Washington into seven straight misses. A lay-up by Loyd with 5:45 left brought Seattle within 63-55 and 5:45 still on the clock. That was the first time late in the opening quarter that it was within single digits. With belief and determination, the Storm looked like they would close the deal and pull off the upset.

A flagrant foul on a 3-point try by Ivana Dojkic sent her to the line and she drained all three, bringing Seattle within one possession at 68-65 with 2:48 left in the game. Storm misses by Kia Nurse, Loyd and Ezi Magbegor down the stretch enable the Mystics to close out the game with free throws.

BIG TAKE AWAY

The insertion of Horston into the line-up shows that Storm head coach Noelle Quinn is still looking for the right combination for the team to play consistently on both ends of the court. Horston’s continues to grow into her WNBA game. A third-scoring threat is needed to complement Loyd and Magbegor.  If Horston came to become a threat the Storm season could turn out better than most expect it too

STORM HIGHLIGHTS

• Jewell Loyd scored a team-high 16 points after missing Friday’s game due to a minor foot injury, adding five assists and five rebounds. Loyd started the game slow, scoring just three points in the first half, but rallied in the second half with 13 points including nine in the third quarter.
• Ezi Magbegor tallied 13 points, seven rebounds, and a season-best four blocks, marking her fifth-straight game with 3+ blocks. That marked the longest streak in franchise history, surpassing Lauren Jackson, who recorded four on four different occasions.
• Kia Nurse scored 12 points while adding four rebounds and four steals, reaching double-figures for the second time in a Storm uniform. Nurse-led the way in the first half with seven points and hit a big three-pointer with 3:27 to pull Seattle within three.
• Dojkić came off the bench to record a career-high 12 points, scoring in double-figures for the first time in her young WNBA career. Dojkić was perfect from the floor, going 3-for-3 from the floor and 5-for-5 from the free throw line, adding four assists and two steals.
• Fellow rookie Jordan Horston made her first WNBA start, scoring 10 points and adding five rebounds, two blocks, and one assist. Horston has now scored in double-figures in three-straight games for Seattle.

MYSTICS HIGHLIGHTS

• The Mystics were without leading scorer Elena Delle Donne for the first time this season (neck tightness).
• Natasha Cloud led the way with 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting, adding five 5 assists.

NEXT GAME

The Storm begins a three-game road trip Tuesday, facing the Phoenix Mercury at Footprint Center. The game tips at 7:00 pm and will be broadcast on FOX 13+ and CBS Sports Network, and streamed on Amazon Prime Video.