WASHINGTON – Crystal Langhorne had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and the Washington Mystics used a big run to start the second half and pulled away for a 84-74 win over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night.
Monique Currie scored 17 points and Katie Smith scored 12 for the Mystics (17-12), who moved three games ahead of the Sun for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They also snapped a two-game losing streak and climbed one-half game behind third-place New York.
Connecticut's Tina Charles had 15 points and 15 rebounds for her 19th double-double, tying the WNBA single-season record set by Natalie Williams in 2000. Renee Montgomery scored 17 points to lead the Sun (14-15), who clinched the season series with a win at home against Washington on Sunday and hold the tiebreaker.
Leading 37-34 at halftime, the Mystics increased the advantage with a 21-6 run to start the second half. Langhorne scored seven points to go with six each from Currie and Chasity Melvin during the run. They made 10 of 16 field goals in the quarter and hit all 13 of their free throw attempts.
In the opener of the teams' back-to-back on Sunday, the Sun used a 24-4 run to take control. Washington turned the tables in the rematch.
Asjha Jones added 14 points for the Sun, who have lost four of their last five.
Melvin finished with 10 points for the Mystics, who made their final 17 free throws.
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