President Obama watches as Washington Mystics pummel Shock
BY Staff Reports
Monday, August 02, 2010
8/02/10 at 9:36 AM
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Six Washington players finished in double figures as the Mystics romped past Tulsa 87-62 Sunday in front of a Verizon Center crowd of 9,008 that included President Barack Obama and his daughter, Sasha.
Monique Currie and Katie Smith led the Mystics with 15 points each. Marissa Coleman registered her first double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Also in double figures for Washington (15-10) was Crystal Langhorne with 11 and 10 each from Chasity Melvin and Lindsey Harding.
"It was pretty great getting to play in front of the president," Coleman said. "When we found out, everybody was pretty excited. Not too many professional athletes get to meet the president. Getting to play in front of the president was really special."
This was the seventh straight loss for the Shock, which fell to 4-22 on the season.
"First of all, we couldn't buy a basket," Shock coach Nolan Richardson said. "We couldn't get into a rhythm or anything. The thing that kind of changed the rhythm was that we got into more of a pressure defense to kind of get after it so we could at least compete from a standpoint of getting up and down the floor and maybe get something that gets us a chance to have a layup. At halftime, we only had three players to have scored any baskets. That's not typical so we could never get started."
Tulsa forward Jennifer Lacy high-fived the president during a dead-ball situation in the second half.
"How could I not high-five him?" Lacy asked. "He was there as a fan, like he's just a normal guy. His presidency is one of great significance to our generation. It was such an honor to be in his presence. I thought I might never get an opportunity to actually meet him so I went for the next best thing, a high five. It was an experience I won't soon forget."
Tiffany Jackson was the only Tulsa player in double figures. The forward finished with 14 points. She was 4-of-11 from the field but 6-of-6 at the free-throw line.
Jackson also led the Shock in rebounds with seven.
Scholanda Robinson had nine points, all in the first half. Amber Holt scored all seven of her points in the second half.
Tulsa started slow, registering six turnovers in the first seven minutes of the game.
The Shock did not reach double figures in the game until nearly four minutes into the second period when Jackson's jumper made it 33-11 with 6:19 to play in the half.
Tulsa returns home Tuesday to face Seattle at 7 p.m. at the BOK Center.
Original Print Headline: Mystics pummel Shock
WNBA
Mystics................. 87
Shock.....................62
Up next
Vs. Seattle
7 p.m. Tuesday
TV: Cox-3
Associated Images:
President Barack Obama (left) applauds along with Washington Mystics part-owner Sheila Johnson during Sunday's Mystics-Shock game in Washington. MANUEL BALCE CENETA / Associated Press
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