From combined dispatches
Mystics 70, Comets 65
HOUSTON — Washington’s Alana Beard knew the Mystics needed a fast start to win at Houston. So they shot 60 percent from the floor and made five 3-pointers in the first half on their way to a victory over the Comets yesterday.
“They were just one game out of first in the West, and we knew they were going to come on strong in the second half,” said Beard, who led Washington with 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
The Mystics took a 43-36 lead at halftime and held on when the Comets got within three points with just under 10 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Roneeka Hodges.
Mystics rookie Tameka Johnson made a pair of free throws in the final seconds.
DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 15 points, Johnson had 11 and Chasity Melvin added 10 points for the Mystics (11-10), who capped a five-game road trip with two wins.
Michelle Snow scored a career-high 23 points to lead Houston (12-8), which lost for just the third time in 13 meetings with Washington. Snow had 16 second-half points for the Comets, who entered 7-0 at home against the Mystics.
“We weren’t aggressive in the first half,” Snow said. “We went deep into our bench in the first half and played a lot of players. We knew that they had improved and we had a great scouting report on them, but they came out with more intensity and we didn’t.”
Tina Thompson, playing for the first time this season after giving birth, scored four points.
“It was good to get back on the court,” Thompson said. “I didn’t really feel the nerves. We’ve been playing really good, and I didn’t want to mess up the flow. I just want to mesh with the team.”
Laurie Koehn made consecutive 3-pointers for a 35-27 lead with 4:39 left to help key the Mystics’ big first half.
“That is the best we’ve executed on offense all season,” Mystics coach Richie Adubato said of the first half. “We were hot and putting down all of our shots. I wasn’t sure where we’d be with this being the last game of a long trip, but we held on.”
Fever 66, Silver Stars 53
INDIANAPOLIS — Jurgita Streimikyte scored 14 points and Indiana recovered from its worst loss of the season with its largest victory margin, beating San Antonio.
Indiana lost by 21 points at Minnesota on Tuesday, but bounced back to allow its lowest point total of the season.
The Fever (12-7) led by as many as 12 points on the way to a 31-24 halftime lead.
San Antonio (5-16) started the second half on a 7-2 run that cut lead to 33-31, but the Fever responded with a 15-4 run to gain control.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.