Liberty no match for Mystics

The Washington Mystics were glad to finally get their first road win of the season in their last game before the Olympic break, and it came at the Libertys expense.

Crystal Langhorne scored 24 points and Monique Currie added 16 to lead the last-place Mystics to a 70-53 victory over the Liberty on Friday. Washington (4-14), which had lost its first seven road games, snapped a four-game losing streak and won for the second time in 11 games.

It was big for us to come in and win on the road our last game, Langhorne said. Just a change of direction for us.

After trailing early, the Mystics took control with a tiebreaking 15-2 run in the second quarter. The Liberty got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.

We were being really aggressive offensively, Langhorne said. They were getting a lot of second-chance opportunities in the first quarter and we really focused on boxing out and pushing on transition.

Washington shot 43 percent (24 for 56) from the field, led by Langhornes 10-for-15 and Curries 5-for-8 efforts. The Mystics were also 19 for 28 (68 percent) on free throws.

Cappie Pondexter scored 22 points on 9-for-23 shooting for the Liberty (6-12), losers of three straight and seven of their last 10. Essence Carson added eight points on 4-for-15 shooting as the Liberty shot 32 percent (22 for 68) including 1 for 15 from 3-point range and 8 of 9 on free throws.

I was 0 for 5 behind the [3-point] line, Pondexter said. Those are shots you got to make. Were a pretty solid 3-point shooting team. Leilani [Mitchell] is the head of that, Nicole [Powell] shoots well. ... We knock shots down. Obviously today wasnt that kind of day.

The Liberty cut a 13-point deficit late in the second quarter to eight early in the third. Nevertheless, the Mystics scored seven consecutive points to regain control. Jasmine Thomas made two free throws and hit a 3-pointer, and Noelle Quinn had a layup to stretch the advantage to 48-33 with 5:12 left in the quarter.

Currie made two free throws and a 3-pointer in the final minute of the period to give Washington a 58-41 lead heading to the fourth. Ashley Robinsons free throw with 8:42 remaining pushed the Mystics lead to 18, their largest of the game.

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Liberty no match for Mystics

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