Struggles continue for Sun

Mystics end 3rd quarter on 22-4 run and send Connecticut to its fifth loss in last six games

Washington — The Connecticut Sun gave up six points to the Washington Mystics in the final 7.7 seconds of the third quarter during Tuesday night's game against the Connecticut Sun.

As if already being outscored by 14 up to that point wasn't bad enough for the Sun.

Connecticut got off to a fast start against the Washington Mystics, only to stall out midway through the third quarter of its 92-80 loss before 4,139 at Capital One Arena.

It was the fifth loss in six games for Connecticut (8-6).

Washington outscored the Sun 224 in the final 5:23 of the third quarter and never lost the lead. It scored the first points of the fourth quarter to take its largest lead, 78-61.

“They congested (the lane),” Connecticut head coach Curt Miller said about why the Mystics pulled away. “And when you don't have a defensive three second call the entire game, and you feel like they've got four or five people in the paint most possessions, they did a good job at congestion around the lane as we were dominating inside early. And so it got harder as the game went on of those points in the paint.”

The Mystics (9-6) have beaten Connecticut in two of their three meetings this season and moved into first place in the Eastern Conference. The teams play once more on July 24 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Elena Delle Donne had 25 points,

four rebounds and two blocks for Washington and LaToya Sanders had 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Kristi Toliver added 14 points, eight assists and three steals for the Mystics and rookie Ariel Atkins had 13 points, five rebounds and two steals.

Chiney Ogwumike had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Connecticut (86) and Alex Bentley had 13 points and six assists. Also, Morgan Tuck had 11 points and five rebounds and Jasmine Thomas had 13 points and four rebounds.

“I think we have been beating ourselves lately,” said Courtney Williams (nine points, six rebounds). “We have been making mistakes as a team that we need to clean up. Just our execution, our hustle plays. We have just been getting out hustled.”

Starting forward Alyssa Thomas missed her fifth straight game since injuring her shoulder during the third quarter of a 95-91 loss to Washington on June 14. She was second in the league in rebounds prior to the injury and ranked in the top 10 in assists.

“We struggled (without her),” Miller said. “She is our best athletic defender. We play through her in transition. Our winning game has to be simulated by the guards all the time, instead of having another pusher, so obviously we are affected by that injury.

“She is our toughness, she is our best player in a lot of aspects. … but tonight we hurt ourselves. We really hurt ourselves in the middle quarters.”

Connecticut started fast and led by as much as 12 points (37-25) with 4:48 left in the second quarter. The Mystics closed the deficit to 46-43 at halftime.

The Sun led 57-54 when Sanders started a 14-0 run for Washington with a jumper with 5:23 remaining in the third quarter. She followed with a layup.

Toliver made the first of two free throws to push Washington ahead, 70-57, with 1:16 remaining in the quarter.

Toliver made two more free throws with 7.7 seconds left in the third. Ogwumike was called for an offensive foul before the inbounds pass to give the Mystics the ball back.

Washington rookie Myisha Hines-Allen had a putback with 1.6 seconds remaining. Monique Currie stole the inbounds pass from Ogwumike and laid it in before the buzzer to push Washington's lead to 76-61.

The Sun return to Mohegan Sun Arena tonight to play the Indiana Fever (7 p.m., NBCSB).