WASHINGTON — The Sparks rarely play a fourth quarter that doesn’t involve a comeback. They’re just not always the ones staging the rally. Two nights after nearly erasing all of a 28-point deficit in the final period of a road loss in New York, the Sparks found themselves unable to protect a lead of their own against the Washington Mystics.
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Sonia Citron had 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and former USC standout Kiki Iriafen added 19 points and eight rebounds, helping the Mystics roar past the Sparks for an 80-70 victory on Saturday night.
Shakira Austin added 17 points and 11 rebounds as Washington (20-14), which was coming off two straight losses in Las Vegas, won for the eighth time in the past 10 games. Citron shot 4 for 5 from 3-point range, while the Mystics also piled up 60 points in the paint.
Rae Burrell scored 20 points, and Nneka Ogwumike added 15 points, seven rebounds and four steals for the Sparks (12-22), who lost their fourth straight game and their 11th in the past 13. Dearica Hamby added 11 points and three steals before fouling out.
Cameron Brink (ribs) sat out for the Sparks after she took a shoulder to the midsection from Breanna Stewart in Thursday’s loss to the Liberty.
The Mystics outscored the Sparks 25-12 in the fourth quarter after the visitors took a three-point lead into the period. Washington shot 9 for 14 from the field in the quarter, while the Sparks were just 3 for 12 and committed six turnovers.
The Sparks shot 39.3% from the field overall and were 9 for 26 from 3-point range.
Washington shot 47.2% overall, despite going 4 for 21 from 3-point range, and held a 43-27 rebounding advantage.
Consecutive baskets by Lauren Betts and Austin gave Washington a 65-64 lead with 6:05 left in the game. Citron added a mid-range jumper to make it a three-point lead with 5:22 remaining.
After Ogwumike made a shot for the Sparks, Citron and Austin scored inside baskets as the Mystics took a 71-66 advantage with 3:44 to play.
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Burrell converted a three-point play for the Sparks before Citron buried a 3-pointer to restore the five-point edge with 3:09 left. Cassandre Prospect made two free throws with 2:29 remaining as Washington took a 76-69 lead.
Austin scored on a layup and later added two free throws, giving the Mystics a 10-point lead with 38.7 seconds left as they closed the game on a 9-1 run to secure the win.
Erica Wheeler and Burrell opened the third quarter with consecutive 3-pointers and the Sparks scored the first eight points and 13 of 15 to take a 52-43 lead with 6:55 left in the period.
Washington responded with eight straight points to move within one.
The Sparks led 58-51 after Burrell’s layup with 1:21 left before the Mystics pulled within 58-55 entering the final period.
The Sparks led 26-24 one minute into the second quarter before Washington went on an 11-2 run in the next three minutes to lead 35-26. Two 3-pointers from Burrell and one from Wheeler got the Sparks within 41-39 at halftime.
Iriafen scored 14 first-half points for Washington, while Ogwumike had 10 points in the first half for the Sparks.
The Sparks are now 7½ games out of a playoff spot (top eight) with 10 games left in the regular season, well on their way to missing the WNBA playoffs for a sixth consecutive season.
UP NEXT
The Sparks visit Connecticut on Tuesday at 4 p.m. PT to conclude their three-game East Coast trip.
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