Sports: Sun improve WNBA playoff hopes with 76-63 win over Mystics
Beat Mystics in key game despite finishing with just seven healthy players
The Connecticut Sun began Sunday's game with nine of their 12 players available.
That number was whittled down to seven for the final three quarters.
Connecticut's seven were able to gut out a 76-63 win over the patchwork Washington Mystics at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., a big win for its playoff chances.
"All hands on deck tonight," Sun Alyssa Thomas said. "People are hurt now, so people have to step up and we knew the importance of a win tonight."
The Sun (7-9) are seventh in the overall WNBA standings with the top eight teams qualifying for the playoffs. Their win over 10th-place Washington (4-11) gave them a series-spilt and a three-game lead over the Mystics.
"Six of (our) last seven (games), including tonight's, are against teams sixth-or-lower in the standings," Connecticut head coach Curt Miller said, "so it's like a double-win when you beat one of the teams you're fighting for a playoff spot with."
Thomas had 16 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Sun. Her layup with 3 minutes, 22 seconds left in the first half gave Connecticut a 34-23 lead, and it led by double-digits the rest of the game.
DeWanna Bonner played over 36 minutes and scored a game-high 20 with 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Sun. Rookie Kaila Charles played 34 minutes off the bench and made 3-of-5 3-pointers for a career-high 16 points.
Veteran Essence Carson, claimed off waivers on Aug. 17, started be
cause Brionna Jones didn't dress due to an ankle injury. Carson had eight points, four assists and two steals.
Rookie Beatrice Mompremier added seven points and six rebounds. She was picked 20th overall (second round) by the Los Angeles Sparks in April's draft and later waived.
"When you have to make a change to a starting lineup (it's) great that a veteran (Carson) can give you that spark that we needed," Miller said. "The bench played terrific. Those are two rookies and a second-year player (Natisha Hiedeman). I'm really, really happy with how those three played off the bench."
Jasmine Thomas played the first 10 minutes then rested. She's in her sixth season as Connecticut's starting point guard.
"Jas has a little bit of plantar fasciitis and it was giving her a little bit of trouble tonight," Miller said. "She was available in an emergency if we really needed her, but the longer we sat her, the decision was not to put her back in if we could get to the finish line without her."
Bria Holmes sat out the previous two games as her Achilles had been bothering her. It was hoped she might be able to play a few minutes against the Mystics but was scratched when she felt uncomfortable during warmups.
Miller said that Theresa Plaisance could've played Sunday but opted to rest her because he liked what he saw from Mompremier. Plaisance had two offseason back surgeries, the last in June.
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis missed her second game due to a back injury.
"We've got all sorts of people banged up just like every other team, but, again, the eight that played for us gave us their all," Miller said.
The defending champion Mystics had only nine players available due to injuries.
Myisha Hines-Allen had 12 points, 13 rebounds and six assists and Ariel Atkins and Emma Meesseman both scored 14.