Mystics power past Sky for first home win of season

Shakira Austin scored 17 points and Kiki Iriafen produced 15 points and 11 rebounds as the host Washington Mystics rolled to a 90-72 victory against the Chicago Sky on Tuesday.

Michaela Onyenwere added 13 points for the Mystics, who had lost three of their previous four games.

While Sydney Taylor paced Chicago with 15 points, Kamilla Cardoso kept the team afloat with 12 points, 13 rebounds and a career-best six blocks. She also led the Sky with five assists.

Chicago (3-6) sputtered to its fifth straight defeat as the team continues to search for consistency without top scorer Rickea Jackson, who sustained a season-ending knee injury on May 17.

The Sky have struggled to stay competitive during the skid, with four losses coming by double digits. The Sky trailed by as many as 22 points on Tuesday.

Washington (4-4) secured its first home victory in three tries this season, prevailing without leading scorer Sonia Citron (left foot sprain). A second-year guard, Citron missed a game for the first time in her career.

Trailing by seven points at the break despite shooting 50%, the Sky couldn't maintain their accuracy coming out of the locker room. Chicago connected on 41.2% of its shots in the third quarter compared to 40% for Washington, but the Mystics capitalized on four Sky turnovers to outscore the visitors by nine.

Iriafen contributed eight points and four boards in the quarter on the way to her fourth double-double in eight games this season. She missed a double-double by one rebound in each of the previous two games entering Tuesday and also had a nine-point, 10-rebound effort this season.

Skylar Diggins (14 points) and Elizabeth Williams (10) also finished with double-figure point totals for the Sky.

The Mystics wound up plus-17 on the glass. Austin grabbed eight rebounds while Angela Dugalic and Onyenwere had seven apiece.

Washington led 47-40 at halftime behind a balanced offensive output.

Austin scored nine points to lead the way, while Cassandre Prosper, Iriafen and Onyenwere chipped in seven apiece.

Cardoso led all scorers with 12 points at the break on 6-for-11 shooting. Taylor followed with nine.

--Field Level Media