Despite solid performances from Emma Meesseman (21 points, 9 rebounds) and Tayler Hill (15 points, 4 steals), the Mystics could not hold on to an 11-point halftime lead and fell to the Atlanta Dream in heartbreaking fashion by a score of 64-61. Looking for their first 3-0 start to a season since 2010, the Mystics could not control Angel McCoughtry (21 points, 6 rebounds) down the final stretch of the fourth quarter as she scored 10 points in the final period, including the Dream’s last five points in the final 30 seconds. The Mystics fall to 2-1 on the season.

Coach Thibault acknowledged Meesseman’s dominance tonight, commenting after the game, “Emma was great, it’s too bad we wasted it. Her teammates need to get reintroduced and see how many times they can try to get her the ball…. But Emma’s been terrific every game. It’s a shame to waste it tonight.”

The game started with early foul trouble for the Mystics, as both Armintie Herrington and Natasha Cloud picked up two quick fouls in the opening minutes of the game. Even though they faced early adversity, Meesseman’s fast 10 points to start the game kept the Mystics within striking range after the first quarter, as the Mystics found themselves only down by a three point margin, 17-14.

After the low-scoring first quarter, the Mystics went on a 3-point binge during the second quarter, hitting three 3-pointers in just over the span of a couple minutes, on the way to outscoring the Dream 22-8 during the second act of the game and going up 36-25 at the break.

However, in the second half, despite holding McCoughtry scoreless in the third quarter, the Mystics could not keep their momentum going and failed to pull away from a scrappy Dream team who kept their deficit at 11 points heading into the game’s final period.

The fourth quarter featured a sheer domination by McCoughtry and the Dream, who clawed back their way back into the game, pulling within one point of the Mystics multiple times.

Thibault noted, “We had control of the game. We made every kind of mistake you could make in the fourth quarter.”

With a minute to go in the game, the Mystics found themselves clinging to a slim 60-57 lead. After Cloud was fouled and hit one of two free throws with 47 seconds remaining, Kia Vaughn fouled Tiffany Hayes on the defensive end, and Hayes proceeded to hit both free throws to cut the margin to two points with 38 seconds left. That’s when McCoughtry decided to take over. After a Mystics turnover on an inbounds pass, McCoughtry hit a huge 3-point shot with 27 seconds remaining to give the Dream their first lead of the game since the first quarter. After another Mystics missed opportunity, they were forced to foul McCoughtry, who hit 2 clutch free throws with 9 seconds left. Ivory Latta’s desperation 3-pointer to tie the game with only seconds remaining rimmed out, sealing the Mystics’ fate.

Even though the Mystics lost their lead and eventually the game to the Dream, they accomplished their goal of limiting the Dream’s production on the glass, a key to the game, losing the rebounding battle by only two boards. Meesseman noticed this good rebounding performance, but said there is still work to be done. “We know [rebounding is] our weak point. So we’re working on it and we’re going to have to work more on it. But, we have to just keep talking to each other and keep fighting. Be tough.”

Despite the tough loss, there were a lot of positives to take away from tonight’s game, including Meesseman and Hill’s stellar performances. Hill knows the Mystics must correct their mistakes, however, if they want to continue to improve as a team. “[We] just [need to] watch film. Watch our mistakes and correct our mistakes. We have a quick turnaround so can’t hang our heads down.” The ‘Stics look to put this loss aside and keep their season trending in the right direction as they take on the Liberty this Sunday in New York.