Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell each scored 22 points and the Indiana Fever won for the fifth time in seven games by beating the Washington Mystics 88-81 on Wednesday night in Indianapolis.
Rookie Caitlin Clark stuffed the stat sheet for Indiana (6-10), adding 18 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. NaLyssa Smith contributed 11 points as the Fever canned 50.8 percent of their shots from the field and finished with a 37-31 advantage on the boards.
Ariel Atkins pumped in a game-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting for Washington (2-13), which suffered its 10th loss by nine points or less. Karlie Samuelson added 16 points and five assists, while Stefanie Dolson scored 14 points.
The Mystics never led but stayed close for the majority of the game. They got within 70-68 with 7:03 left after a three-point play from Emily Engstler, but Indiana rattled off the next seven points, with Clark draining a 3-pointer from the right wing with 5:05 remaining to build a 77-68 cushion.
Washington sank 11 3-pointers in the final three periods but converted just 41.4 percent of its attempts from the field for the game. Julie Vanloo collected eight of the Mystics’ 26 assists.
Indiana was in control for most of the first three quarters, never trailing, but never putting Washington away, either. It was able to open up a 21-17 lead after one frame by scoring via post-ups and drives, a strategy that served it well all night.
The Mystics found their footing offensively in the second quarter by cashing in from deep. After going 0-for-8 from long range in the first quarter, Washington made six 3-pointers in the second, allowing it to be within 46-43 at the break.
The Fever used the foul line to create a little separation in the third quarter, getting there 11 times and sinking eight free throws. Clark sank two foul shots at the 1:02 mark to give Indiana a 68-59 advantage going into the fourth.
–Field Level Media