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Mystics survive double-OT thriller with 91-89 win

Aug 15, 2009 - 4:10 AM WASHINGTON(AP) -- Crystal Langhorne had career highs of 22 points and 16 rebounds and made the game-winning shot with 9.1 seconds left in double overtime and the Washington Mystics earned a 91-89 win over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night.

The Mystics (12-11) missed the final shot at the end of regulation and the first overtime, but Langhorne came through with a shot from the top of the key. The Sun's Anete Jekabsone-Zogata missed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds and Washington's Nakia Sanford grabbed the rebound to seal the win. The Mystics ended a two-game skid.

"I never hit a game-winning shot," said Langhorne, who was 10 of 13 from the field. "That was just a great feeling for me. It was really good for us to have that win. Connecticut's a great team. We're just really excited. We really needed that."

Alana Beard led the Mystics with 26 points, Lindsey Harding added 13 points and Monique Currie scored 10 points as Washington pulled into a three-way tie for second place in the Eastern Conference along with Connecticut (12-11) and idle Atlanta.

Asjha Jones led the Sun with 23 points, Lindsay Whalen scored 20 points and Erin Phillips added 13 points.

"It came down to them hitting one more big shot then we did," Whalen said. "Overall I thought we played hard. You don't really know what to say after a game like this. So many swings of emotion back and forth. Its just a tough way to lose."

Connecticut, which hit 3 of 22 three-point attempts, had its largest lead in the fourth quarter at 63-57, led by four in the first overtime and took a two-point lead at 89-87 with 1:28 remaining in the second overtime on a 3-pointer by Kerri Gardin.

Harding hit a driving layup to tie the game with 1:03 remaining and Jones was called for an offensive foul on the Sun's next possession. Currie rebounded a Harding miss, setting up the game-winner from Langhorne.

"I've been working on that shot a lot," Langhorne said. "My coaches have been helping me. It came down to the end of the game and I took it."

Washington had struggled in the fourth quarter in its previous six games, going 2-4 during that stretch, but played better against the Sun.

"I thought tonight we grew up," said Beard, who led the Mystics in scoring for the seventh straight game. "I always say this team is good and we could be great. This was a step to us being great."

Whalen and Beard traded baskets toward the end of regulation. Beard forced a jump ball with the game tied at 73 that Washington controlled with 11.1 seconds left. Beard's attempted shot slipped out of her hands and into Harding's, but her 3-pointer at the buzzer went in and out.

Jones put the Sun up 81-77 with 1:53 left in the first overtime before Langhorne scored the next four points, including two free throws with 47.4 seconds remaining.

Notes: Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James was courtside during the game, one night after a local screening of his documentary "More Than a Game," which was attended by members of the Mystics.