Watch #MysticsFever Postgame Recap | Photos

Hitting the court on the wings of Saturday’s 95-65 victory over the Atlanta Dream, the Mystics clinched their second straight home win, routing the Indiana Fever 76-62 on Wednesday night at Verizon Center. It was the Mystics’ third win in a row, boosting them back to .500 (7-7).

It was a battle of defensive prowess, with both teams playing true to their aggressive, gritty styles. The Mystics forced 18 Fever turnovers, and returned 13 turnovers by the end of the game.

Tayler Hill lead the team with an impressive 16 points, followed by Emma Meesseman and Ivory Latta with 12 each.

“We made a lot of defensive stops, but overall I think we played a really good game on both ends, both offense and defense” said Latta, coming off her winning performance.

With both teams struggling to find an offensive groove, the first quarter began as a rebound competition. Cloud grabbed two rebounds within the first few minutes (she finished with a team-high six), and a team-wide defensive push forced numerous Fever turnovers. But, the Mystics had trouble finding the bottom of the net and checked out of the first trailing the Fever 17-12.

Entering the second, the Mystics began to gain some momentum. Bria Hartley sank the second three of the game and Tianna Hawkins snagged a cutting finger roll layup to slash the Fever lead to 23-18. The Mystics went on a quick 10-0 scoring run and took the lead 28-27 with only 2:30 left in the half. Both teams were neck and neck as Cloud drove in a layup to bring the the score to 35-34 at the half.

The Mystics hit the court for the second half with a stronger defensive edge and some much-needed offensive chemistry. Hill hit double digits, posting 11 points by the six minute mark of the third, but the Mystics’ shooting percentage dipped to just 34.2%. The ‘Stics still managed to outscore the Fever in the third 16-12, exiting the quarter with a three point lead, 50-47.

Seconds into the fourth, Kahleah Copper put in a driving layup, bringing the Mystics’ lead to five, and then Kia Vaughn quickly extended the lead to seven, 54-47. The Mystics proved they had found their flow, and it was a ten-point game with just five minutes to go. The Mystics made all the big plays down the stretch and when the final horn sounded, they walked off the court with a 14-point win, boasting a final score of 76-62.

Despite their win, the Mystics can’t rest just yet. With a home game Friday against the Phoenix Mercury and another Sunday versus the Minnesota Lynx, it’s crucial the Mystics maintain their energy and their morale.

“We’ve gotta take care of our bodies and be prepared. We’ve got great teams coming in,” said Latta.”We’ve gotta picture ourselves doing great things and carry that into the game.”