Balanced Rockers spoil Mystics' home opener

WASHINGTON (AP)-- Chasity Melvin led a balanced Cleveland offense with 13 points and 10 rebounds Friday as the Rockers spoiled the Washington Mystics' home opener with a 63-53 victory.
Cleveland (2-1) took advantage of a Washington offense that struggled without top scorer Chamique Holdsclaw, out for three games with a strained hamstring.
The Rockers had little trouble finding high-percentage shots and would have won by an even bigger margin if they hadn't turned the ball over 18 times.
Washington (1-3) scored just 14 points in the first half, a franchise low.
Cleveland held a 41-28 advantage in rebounds -- including 11 offensive boards that often led to easy follow shots. The Rockers scored 38 points in the paint.
Penny Taylor added 13 points for the Rockers, who also got nine points apiece from Helen Darling and Pollyanna Johns-Kimbrough.
Coco Miller led Washington with 15 points, and Aiysha Smith added 10.
Washington often looked disjointed on offense and had problems getting good shots in the first half. The Mystics missed all nine 3-point shots they took and never made it to the foul line. Cleveland led 34-14 at halftime.
The Mystics scored 39 points in the second half, but didn't pull close until the final minutes.