Mystics vs. Liberty Notes & Quotes
Sun, May 15, 2016, 2:59 AM
MYSTICS NOTEWORTHY
– The Mystics dropped their regular season opener 76-87 against the New York Liberty. The Mystics are now 9-10 in regular season home openers
– The Mystics were led by fourth-year guard Tayler Hill who tied her career high with 20 points, shooting 6-for-15 from the field, 4-for-8 from three-point range, and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Hill’s four made three-pointers tied a career high. She also pulled down a career high eight rebounds in the Mystics effort
– Mystics guard Bria Hartley added 17 points from off the bench, shooting 6-for-14 from the field, 4-for-6 from three-point range, and connected on one from the free throw line
– The game featured nine lead changes and 10 ties with the Mystics leading by as much as nine and the Liberty by as much as 11
– The Mystics outrebounded the Liberty 39-34 and outshot the Liberty .450 to .231 from three-point range. The Liberty took the advantage at the charity stripe, outshooting the Mystics .833 to .792
– The score was tied at 45 at the half before the Liberty pulled away, outscoring the Mystics 19-13 in the third quarter and leading by as much as 10
– The Mystics rallied back in the fourth and tied the game at 73 with 2:54 left in the game. The Liberty pulled away and controlled the remainder of the game which sealed the victory for the visiting team
– Liberty center Tina Charles led all scorers with 24 points, shooting 11-for-21 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. She also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds posting a double-double to start out the regular season
– Liberty guard and former Georgetown Hoya, Sugar Rodgers, added 19 points, shooting 7-for-14 from the field, 3-for-8 from three-point range, and 2-for-2 from the free throw line
MYSTICS HEAD COACH MIKE THIBAULT
Thoughts on the last three minutes:
“We got some shots blocked, we missed free throws, and we missed some layups. I thought that for playing 7 to 8 players, we were tired. We are going to have to get a lot better in a lot of ways. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We are going to have to figure out a way to do a better job. We did a decent job on the defensive end but we didn’t on the offensive end, so it doesn’t matter. No one had a great shooting night.”
“We got some shots blocked, we missed free throws, and we missed some layups. I thought that for playing 7 to 8 players, we were tired. We are going to have to get a lot better in a lot of ways. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We are going to have to figure out a way to do a better job. We did a decent job on the defensive end but we didn’t on the offensive end, so it doesn’t matter. No one had a great shooting night.”
On Bria Hartley down the home stretch:
“Buckle down and play and be healthy. More encouraging part of the game. Once she got that back (second wind) she did a better job down the stretch. Tayler Hill had a good first half not so much second half. We played her a lot of minutes, and she had a lot of responsibility tonight. It is going to take us a while given everything and getting everyone back together.”
“Buckle down and play and be healthy. More encouraging part of the game. Once she got that back (second wind) she did a better job down the stretch. Tayler Hill had a good first half not so much second half. We played her a lot of minutes, and she had a lot of responsibility tonight. It is going to take us a while given everything and getting everyone back together.”
On thoughts of Emma Meesseman returning:
“She probably has jetlag. She has been in an 11 hour time zone in the last eight days. Hopefully the next couple of days of practice will help prepare her for Wednesday. It did not help her getting in foul trouble early, and guarding Tina Charles was a real tough matchup for her.”
“She probably has jetlag. She has been in an 11 hour time zone in the last eight days. Hopefully the next couple of days of practice will help prepare her for Wednesday. It did not help her getting in foul trouble early, and guarding Tina Charles was a real tough matchup for her.”
On Natasha Cloud’s performance:
“I have a hard time evaluating that stuff, until I watch the film, we will talk about it in the next practice. Once you lose a game your instinct is to be overly critical. Obviously, she got to the free throw line but didn’t connect on her field goal. We had low turnovers but we had a couple people have crucial turnovers, but some of the ones we had were at tough times.”
“I have a hard time evaluating that stuff, until I watch the film, we will talk about it in the next practice. Once you lose a game your instinct is to be overly critical. Obviously, she got to the free throw line but didn’t connect on her field goal. We had low turnovers but we had a couple people have crucial turnovers, but some of the ones we had were at tough times.”
MYSTICS GUARD KAHLEAH COPPER
On main focus in first game as a rookie:
“I think I did a pretty good job. I really tried to just do the small things like rebounding, the things I knew I could control. I was trying to just rebound well, let the offense work and play great defense.”
“I think I did a pretty good job. I really tried to just do the small things like rebounding, the things I knew I could control. I was trying to just rebound well, let the offense work and play great defense.”
On feelings after scoring in first game:
“It was good. It gave me a boost of confidence. It’s going to help me continue to play hard and just try to get things done for the team.”
“It was good. It gave me a boost of confidence. It’s going to help me continue to play hard and just try to get things done for the team.”
On team outrebounding New York:
“That was a point of emphasis. We looked at the stats and figured out how many games they’ve lost and won being outrebounded. I think that outrebounding them was something that we really wanted to take pride in tonight. We wanted to rebound well and stay on the boards tonight.”
“That was a point of emphasis. We looked at the stats and figured out how many games they’ve lost and won being outrebounded. I think that outrebounding them was something that we really wanted to take pride in tonight. We wanted to rebound well and stay on the boards tonight.”
MYSTICS GUARD BRIA HARTLEY
On looking forward:
“We have some things to fine tune and get everyone on the same page. There were a couple of unforced turnovers where we were just throwing the ball away but I think that will come with just playing together more.”
“We have some things to fine tune and get everyone on the same page. There were a couple of unforced turnovers where we were just throwing the ball away but I think that will come with just playing together more.”
On playing with a younger line up:
“I think we did a decent job. There were stretches when we played really well. Even though we are young, we don’t want to use that as an excuse. We are hungry and we are going to go out there and play well. We want to win.”
“I think we did a decent job. There were stretches when we played really well. Even though we are young, we don’t want to use that as an excuse. We are hungry and we are going to go out there and play well. We want to win.”
On the difference at the end of the game:
“I think it came down to getting stops at the end of the game. It was tied at 73 and they would go on a run. At the end of the day we either have to be able to score or get stops.”
“I think it came down to getting stops at the end of the game. It was tied at 73 and they would go on a run. At the end of the day we either have to be able to score or get stops.”
On making shots when playing from behind:
“I think that it sparks up the team. Anyone who makes a shot helps get the momentum going in the right direction.”
“I think that it sparks up the team. Anyone who makes a shot helps get the momentum going in the right direction.”
Mystics at a glance
Points: Tayler Hill – 20
Rebounds: Hill – 8
Assists: Natasha Cloud – 4
Steals: Kahleah Copper – 2
Points: Tayler Hill – 20
Rebounds: Hill – 8
Assists: Natasha Cloud – 4
Steals: Kahleah Copper – 2
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