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Mystics-Sun Preview

Aug 6, 2015 - 8:39 PM While the Connecticut Sun hope to build momentum from a historic win, the Washington Mystics kept on surging their last time out.

The Mystics aim for a seventh win in eight games when they visit Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday night for a clash between the WNBA's all-time leader in coaching victories and its newest member of the 200-win club.

Connecticut's Anne Donovan reached the milestone with Tuesday's 82-51 home rout of San Antonio, becoming the league's first female coach and fourth overall to achieve 200 wins. The result was just as important in the standings for the Sun (10-9), who sit a half-game back of Indiana for the Eastern Conference's last playoff spot but have dropped all three season meetings to the Fever.

"It means I have coached a lot of games and it means I have been fortunate enough to coach a lot of great players," Donovan said. "I have been with some great organizations, crossed paths with special people and made numerous lasting relationships. That is what you value the most about this business is the relationships, and that is what it means to me to win 200 games."

The Sun made it easy for Donovan by dominating the Stars on both ends. Connecticut notched a season-best 24 assists, topped by Chelsea Gray's career-high seven, and finished with a 41-25 rebounding advantage. Kelsey Bone grabbed 10 boards to go along with 17 points and six assists.

Bone has averaged 15.7 points over her last 10 games to take over the team scoring lead from fellow All-Star Alex Bentley, who scored 10 points in Tuesday's win after managing nine on 4-of-21 shooting over her previous three contests.

The Mystics (12-7) had a season-high five-game win streak halted with a 71-68 loss at Chicago on Sunday, then bounced back by rallying to beat San Antonio 66-63 on Wednesday for coach Mike Thibault's 251st career victory. The win moved Washington within a game of first-place New York in the East.

Ivory Latta helped the Mystics overcome a 38-27 halftime deficit by netting 15 of her 23 points after the break.

"Coach called my number a few times and to hear my teammates say 'I, lead us, lead us to victory,' it felt really good," Latta told the Mystics' official website.

The Mystics have won both meetings with Connecticut, including a 73-68 victory in Uncasville on June 5, and seven of the last eight in the series. Kara Lawson had a season-high 24 points in Washington's 89-82 home victory over the Sun on July 19, but missed Wednesday's game with a back injury and is uncertain for Friday.