INDIANAPOLIS – In the first of two matchups against the Washington Mystics to end the regular season, the Indiana Fever fell 82-70 at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Friday night. Rookie forward Emily Engstler led the way, tallying a career-high 18 points, five rebounds and three blocks.
The first quarter for Indiana was led by forward Emma Cannon. After getting added to the starting lineup minutes before tip-off, Cannon scored all of Indiana’s 12 points in the first quarter. She is only the second player — the first being Erica Wheeler — in franchise history to score every point in a quarter.
Washington continued its balanced scoring attack in the second quarter, shooting 50 percent from the field. Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne and center Elizabeth Williams led the team with eight points each and scored the majority of Washington’s 18 first-half points in the paint.
Washington kept control of the lead in the third quarter, with Delle Donne scoring eight of her game-high 24 points in the quarter. Up 60-47 after three quarters, Indiana put up a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter to cut the lead down to eight. The Mystics responded, however, with two straight baskets to push the lead back to double digits and held the lead for the remainder of the game.
Four players in total scored in double figures for Indiana. Behind Engstler’s 18, Cannon tied her season-high with 16 points and eight rebounds. Guard Tiffany Mitchell scored 13 points and rookie forward NaLyssa Smith recorded her 23rd career game in double figures with 11 points.
Every player who touched the floor for Washington scored a basket in the contest for the 21-14 Mystics. Williams was the second-leading scorer behind Delle Donne with 10 points. The Mystics assisted on 26 of their 31 made field goals — the most this season.
UP NEXT
The Fever play the final game of the regular season on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Washington Mystics.
Sunday’s game will be streamed on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page.