WASHINGTON (AP) — Lindsey Harding scored 21 points and the undefeated Washington Mystics scored the final 16 points in a 77-61 win over the New York Liberty on Friday night.
Monique Currie scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half and Crystal Langhorne finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Mystics (3-0), who overcame a sloppy start and an 11-point first half deficit in their home opener.
After the Liberty tied the game at 61 with 6:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Mystics took the lead for good on a pair of free throws by Harding with 5:57 left. Washington held the Liberty scoreless the rest of the way.
Cappie Pondexter led the Liberty (1-1) with 14 points, and Janel McCarville and Nicole Powell each added 10.
New York turned a three-point halftime hole into a 45-39 lead with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter, but the Liberty made only 2 of 15 field goals in the fourth.
Currie, who entered that game as the WNBA's leading scorer at 24 points per game, scored nine in the fourth quarter. Nakia Sanford added 10 points for the Mystics.
The Mystics closed the second quarter on a 15-2 run, including the final 12 points despite Currie being saddled with three fouls. Harding started the stretch with a 3-pointer to beat the shot clock, scored the next two Mystics baskets on nifty drives to the hoop and then ended the half with a jumper with 3.3 seconds remaining for a 31-28 halftime lead.
NOTES: Mystics first round pick Jacinta Monroe made her debut after missing the first two games because of an ankle injury. She had two points in four minutes.
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