Mystics

The Washington Mystics spent most of Thursday night trying to atone for yet another slow start. Methodically, they trimmed the deficit from 17points to 12 to six to three. For less than a minute, they even took a one-point lead. But in the closing minutes of a 79-71 loss to the Connecticut Sun that dropped the Mystics to 1-3 on the season, the same deficiencies that forced them into a sizable early hole ensured they would not complete their comeback attempt. The Mystics have trailed at halftime in each of their four games thus far and have trailed by 12 points after the first quarter in each of their past two contests.

The players on both sides played their hardest during Sunday's Super Bowl , but few observers would disagree that an awful lot of luck - if that's what you want to call it - was involved in the Ravens' victory. After the game we heard practically all of the coaches and players repeatedly giving thanks to their higher powers for helping them succeed. What I didn't hear mentioned was the mystical, mercurial aspect of the symbolic Raven. Only now that the game is over can we see that this magical totem was on our side, too. Indeed, that's the problem with the raven as a magical symbol: At heart, it's a trickster, and you can never be entirely sure of its motives.

The Washington Mystics came into the WNBA Eastern Conference semifinals with a franchise-best 22 wins, a six-game winning streak and the top seed in the East. The one thing they forgot to bring was their defense. Washington's defensive shortcomings led to its 95-90 loss to the fourth-seeded Atlanta Dream on Wednesday night before 10,322 at Verizon Center. "I was very disappointed with our defensive effort," coach Julie Plank said. "You can't give up 95 points. ... Whether we were in man or we were in zone, their dribble penetration hurt us a lot. We were fouling too much, and they pretty much got what they wanted.

Et cetera Gilman's Poggi to coach Md. vs. Pa. in Big 33 Classic Gilman's Biff Poggi will head the coaching staff for the Maryland team that will play Pennsylvania in the Big 33 Football Classic, the executive board of Big 33 Team Maryland announced. Poggi's staff includes Milford Mill coach Reggie White , Atholton coach Kyle Schmitt and Gilman assistant coach Chris Baucia as well as Wise coach DeLawn Parrish and Quince Orchard coach Dave Mencarini . Teams from the two states will renew their rivalry after 21 years apart in the June 15 game at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pa. Maryland will play in at least the next five Big 33 Classics, and River Hill coach Brian Van Deusen will take the reins in 2014.

WNBA The WNBA Washington Mystics on Wednesday added free-agent forward-center Laura Harper , who started on Maryland's national championship team in 2005-06. Harper, the 10th overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft, has played for the Sacramento Monarchs and San Antonio Silver Stars. She is averaging 13.6 points and 10.3 rebounds this season for Antakya in Turkey. The Mystics also added free-agent post player Ashley Walker and re-signed forward Kerri Gardin . College basketball Mount's Burke on administrative leave Mount St. Mary's placed men's basketball coach Robert Burke on paid administrative leave Wednesday and named assistant Matt Henry the team's acting coach.

The Washington Wizards signed guard-forward Cartier Martin to a 10-day contract, president Ernie Grunfeld announced. Martin, 6 feet 7 and 220 pounds, had averaged 17.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 31 games this season for the Iowa Energy of the NBA Developmental League. He was signed to replace Alonzo Gee , who completed two 10-day contracts with the Wizards. Washington planned to sign him for the rest of the season, but Gee signed with the San Antonio Spurs. The Wizards also learned that guard Randy Foye has a strained ligament in his left wrist.

WNBA Mystics deal ex-Terp Coleman to Sparks The Washington Mystics acquired guard-forward Noelle Quinn from the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, general manager and coach Trudi Lacey announced, in exchange for guard-forward Marissa Coleman , a former Maryland star. The 6-foot Quinn has played five seasons in the WNBA, including the past three with Los Angeles. After a distinguished college career at UCLA, Quinn was the fourth overall selection in the 2007 draft by Minnesota, where she spent her first two seasons.

WNBA Mystics deal Harding, add 1st-rounders Phillips, Dunlap The Washington Mystics acquired center Ta'Shia Phillips , guard Kelly Miller and a 2012 first-round draft pick from the Atlanta Dream on Monday for guard Lindsey Harding and the Mystics' second-round pick in 2012. Phillips, 6feet6, who averaged 16.1 points and 12.4 rebounds in her senior season at Xavier, was selected eighth overall by Atlanta in the first round of Monday's WNBA draft. With the 11th pick, the Mystics chose Victoria Dunlap , a 6-1 forward from Kentucky who was Southeastern Conference Player of the Year.

WASHINGTON - -Cappie Pondexter scored 24 points and Diana Taurasi had 23 to help the Phoenix Mercury pick up its first road victory of the season with a 93-87 win over the host Washington Mystics on Thursday night. Temeka Johnson added 11 points and Kelly Mazzante scored 10 for the Mercury (6-3), who had key runs to close out the first and third quarters and then held off the Mystics' late rally. Alana Beard led five double-figure scorers with 21 points and had four steals, as the Mystics (4-2)

WASHINGTON -- When is the result of a basketball game superfluous? When it comes in the middle of a coronation, that's when.For the record, the Washington Mystics lost their WNBA season opener, 83-73, to the Charlotte Sting last night, the 28th loss in the franchise's 31 games, but it just didn't matter.Chamique Holdsclaw had come to stake her claim as the basketball queen of the "most important city in the world," as the public address announcer describes it, and her subjects were all too happy to let her reign begin.

Colleges UMBC's Kapor named America East Player of the Week UMBC senior midfielder Milo Kapor was selected as the America East Men's Soccer Player of the Week and was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week. He has contributed to all 10 of the Retrievers' goals this season (two goals, eight assists) and moved into a tie for 10th place on UMBC's all-time assist list with 18. More men's soccer: Loyola freshman Larry Ndjock was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for the second time this season.

Et cetera Sophia Young scored 18 points, all in the second half, as the visiting San Antonio Silver Stars handed the Washington Mystics their sixth loss in their past seven games, 78-73. Washington (3-11) got 15 points from Monique Currie and 13 from Crystal Langhorne (Maryland). The Silver Stars (10-5) have won six straight. Capitals: Washington re-signed forward Jay Beagle to a three-year contract extension Thursday. Beagle has spent his entire four-year career with the Capitals, recording career highs of four goals and five points in 41 games last season.

Olympics Stettinius to be honored at Capitol before Olympics Suzanne Stettinius of Parkton, a top-ranked U.S. pentathlete, will be sent off to the London Games as part of the "Capitol Fourth" celebration on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. The ceremony will air nationally on PBS from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Stettinius is part of a contingent of American athletes who will be honored before departing for the Olympics. The segment featuring Stettinius will be hosted by eight-time Olympic medal-winning speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno . WNBA Mystics beat Mercury, end five-game losing streak The Washington Mystics held off the Phoenix Mercury, 90-77, on Sunday to end a five-game losing streak and win for the first time since June 15. The win came with a price, however.

Et cetera Prahalis helps Mercury edge Mystics Samantha Prahalis hit a jumper with 23.2 seconds to play to help the host Phoenix Mercury to an 80-77 win over the Washington Mystics. Prahalis had 15 points and seven rebounds, DeWanna Bonner added 19 points and seven boards while Krystal Thomas donated 15 and six for the Mercury, which ended a three-game losing streak. Michelle Snow posted 21 points and nine rebounds while Monique Currie had 20 points and six boards for the Mystics, who have lost their past two games.

WNBA Langhorne's 25 not enough as Mystics lose to Sun Crystal Langhorne (Maryland) scored 25 points and Jasmine Thomas added 17 points off the bench, but the Washington Mystics lost their third straight game Sunday, falling to the Connecticut Sun, 94-86. Monique Currie had a team-high eight rebounds. The Mystics rallied to pull within three points with just over two minutes remaining but were unable to contain Sun center Tina Charles , who thwarted Washington's comeback attempt with a 30-point performance.

NFL Heyward-Bey pleads not guilty in DUI case An attorney for Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf Thursday to drunken-driving charges stemming from an arrest on the Bay Bridge, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday. Heyward-Bey, 25, who played at Maryland, was not required to appear in San Francisco Superior Court to enter his plea to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol content above the legal limit of 0.08 percent, the newspaper reported.

WASHINGTON -- It will be tempting for Washington Mystics fans to look at last night's 72-69 loss to the Houston Comets and see improvement. After all, the Mystics dropped their last two to Houston by a combined 70 points.But the Mystics will no doubt rue the fact that they had the two-time defending champions in a 10-point hole with less than 12 minutes to play and let them slip away before a boisterous MCI Center crowd of 19,458."We have to get over that edge that's been holding us back.

Rhonda Bates-Corkeran, who played at Wilde Lake High School before going to Temple University and a professional career overseas, was one of six players who survived tryouts for the Washington Mystics at the MCI Center on Sunday.Of the 400 players who showed up for the WNBA expansion team's open tryouts, Bates-Corkeran, Liza Donnell of Newark, N.J., Keri Chaconas of Springfield, Va., La'Shawn Brown of East Cleveland, Ohio, Meredith Sisson of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Teakyta Barnes of Syracuse, N.Y., get to attend Mystics training camp from May 12-June 10, joining eight others that the team picked in the expansion and free-agent drafts.

WNBA draft Terps ' Barrett, Kizer selected among top 30 Maryland point guard Anjalé Barrett and center Lynetta Kizer were selected in the top 30 of the WNBA draft Monday afternoon. Barrett was picked 26th overall and went to the Washington Mystics, to join former teammate Crystal Langhorne . Kizer went to the Tulsa Shock two picks later. Barrett finished her senior season second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in assists (4.9) and assist-turnover ratio (1.8)

Et cetera Ex-Terp Langhorne stays with Mystics WNBA All-Star forward Crystal Langhorne (Maryland) re-signed with the Washington Mystics. Langhorne led the team with 18.2points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season. NFL: The Ravens hired Chris Hewitt on Thursday to be their assistant special teams coach and promoted Matt Weiss to defensive assistant. Hewitt, 37, a Cincinnati alumnus, spent the past eight years at Rutgers, including the past two as running backs coach.