Mystics-Storm Preview By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer
Tayler Hill's career-best scoring performance gave the Washington Mystics just enough of an edge to end their worst start in nine years. The Mystics will seek to collect another victory Thursday night while ending their lengthy road losing streak against the Seattle Storm. Hill tallied 24 points and set another personal high with seven assists in an 84-76 overtime win against Connecticut on Saturday, the opener to a three-game trip for Washington (1-3). That was also the Mystics' first road game of the season. Hill is averaging 18 points, 10.5 more than in her third WNBA season, and she scored 20 in each of Washington's first two games. The guard will try for another high-scoring effort while helping the Mystics end a 10-game losing streak at Seattle (1-2). Washington hasn't won in that city since July 13, 2005, and has fallen in overtime in two of its last three visits. The Storm topped the Mystics in regulation in last season's lone home matchup, a 69-59 victory Aug. 30. Washington split the two overall meetings and won 87-74 on July 29 with Ivory Latta scoring 20 points. The veteran guard hasn't played this season because she's recovering from surgery for a torn meniscus in her right knee. Starting guard Natasha Cloud is set to miss a third consecutive game because of an illness, and the Mystics signed Jamie Weisner on Monday to boost their depth. Alysha Clark scored a career-high 20 points Sunday in the Storm's home opener, but Seattle fell 78-71 to defending champion Minnesota. Brenna Stewart, this year's No. 1 draft pick, registered her second straight double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. "It's been fun watching Stewie," coach Jenny Boucek told the team's official website. "You're seeing why she's so great, and why she will be so great. She's got talent, but she is extremely hungry and unafraid. She wants to go against the best." Stewart had the same stat line in an 81-80 victory in Phoenix on Friday. Jewell Loyd clinched that win by banking in a 12-foot shot with 2.9 seconds left and finished with a career-high 30 points. The Storm have had different players post high-scoring efforts in each of the first three games, and Stewart had 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting in her pro debut, a 96-66 defeat at Los Angeles on May 15. |