By Field Level Media

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Emma Meesseman scored 25 points, Elena Delle Donne posted a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds and Aerial Powers added 20 points to help the host Washington Mystics crush the Minnesota Lynx 101-78 on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 11.

The Mystics benefited from both balance and hot shooting en route to their fourth straight victory. Myisha Hines-Allen scored 13 points to give Washington a quartet of double-figure scorers, as the Mystics finished 34-for-62 (54.8 percent) from the floor.

Minnesota struggled to recover from an early double-digit deficit and saw its three-game winning streak snapped. The Lynx closed to within 80-70 on an Odyssey Sims’ trey with 6:31 remaining, but the Mystics responded by scoring 10 consecutive points over the next 2:42 to put the game away.

The Lynx stayed afloat until the closing stages behind 47.7 percent (31-for-65) shooting. Sims led the way with 20 points, while Temi Fagbenle (12 points) and Napheesa Collier (11) followed. Sims added eight assists, and Collier had a team-best six rebounds.

Playing even with Minnesota in the early going, Washington created separation with a 13-5 run over the final 3:01 of the first quarter. Delle Donne opened the run with a pullup jumper and added a hook shot about a minute later to help the Mystics build a 27-19 lead after one quarter.

Powers swished two free throws at the 6:25 mark of the second quarter to put Washington ahead 38-24, but a brief offensive lull kept the Mystics from further expanding their lead. Washington managed just four points over the next 2:16, as Minnesota drew to within nine before entering halftime down 51-41.

Both teams excelled from the field in the first half, with Washington’s 58.1 percent accuracy narrowly outpacing that of the Lynx (51.6 percent). Delle Donne led all scorers at the break with 16 points on 5-for-7 shooting.

Sunday marked the first of two meetings in a six-day span, with a rematch set for Friday in Minnesota. Washington defeated Minnesota 79-71 on July 24 in the first game between the sides this season behind 32 points from Kristi Toliver.