• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Mystics-Sun Preview

May 22, 2010 - 4:41 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Washington (3-0) at Connecticut (1-1), 3:00 p.m. EDT

The Washington Mystics look to improve to 4-0 for the first time in franchise history Sunday when they begin a three-game road trip against the Connecticut Sun.

After opening 2009 with three victories, starting with a season-opening 82-70 win at Connecticut, Washington dropped five of its next seven. The Mystics finished 16-20 before getting swept by eventual Eastern Conference champion Indiana in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Mystics are looking for better results in 2010, and remained unbeaten with Friday's 77-61 victory over New York. Tied with 6:20 remaining, Washington scored the final 16 points to win its home opener.

"It's been the case with our team this year, we find a way to win," said second-year coach Julie Plank. "I thought our defense turned it up. We played an excellent second half."

The first half was a much different story, with Washington missing 11 of its first 15 shots, and trailing 18-9 after one quarter. Lindsey Harding helped the Mystics trim a double-digit deficit with seven straight points in the second quarter.

"They kind of started off slow and we started well and she picked it up and gave them momentum," Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter said of Harding, who finished with a team-high 21 points, and averaged 12.0 with 4.7 assists as Washington won two of three versus Connecticut last season.

Monique Currie, who led the Mystics in scoring the first two games, scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half against New York.

Connecticut (1-1) is coming off Friday's 97-82 loss at Atlanta. Playing their first game in six days, the Sun were outrebounded 27-12 and shot just 30 percent from the field in the first half.

"We had a week to get ready for this," said coach Mike Thibault, whose team trailed by as many as 27 in the second half. "Our entire focus of practice was defensive transition against their fast break and defensive rebound. We were awful at both. It was like we'd never practiced."

Thibault, though, has been happy with the play of No. 1 overall pick Tina Charles, who posted her second straight double-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

Second-year guard Anete Jekabsone-Zogota had 13 points Friday, and is averaging 15.5 on 68.8 percent shooting. She has made 7 of 9 from 3-point range.

The Sun, who play five of their next six at home, routed the Mystics 96-67 in their last visit to Mohegan Sun Arena on Aug. 9.

Washington will travel to Seattle and Los Angeles before returning home to face Connecticut on May 30.