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Katie Smith helps Mystics beat Mercury

Jul 2, 2010 - 4:24 AM PHOENIX(AP) -- Katie Smith hit a 3-pointer and six free throws in the final seconds and finished with 25 points to help the Washington Mystics hand the Phoenix Mercury their sixth straight loss, 107-104 on Thursday night.

Crystal Langhorne added 21 points and nine rebounds for Washington (11-5), which has won seven of eight to move within 1 1/2 games of Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta.

Penny Taylor and Candice Dupree each had 23 points for the defending WNBA champion Mercury (5-11), while league scoring leader Diana Taurasi, playing with a bruised back, had 11 points in 27 minutes.

Taurasi hit a 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left, but Smith was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play and hit two free throws.

Taylor made two free throws with 32.4 seconds left to cut it to 98-97, but Smith hit her fifth 3-pointer with 12.4 seconds remaining for Washington.

Dupree scored on a layup with 7.5 seconds left for Phoenix, and Smith hit four free throws in the final 6.8 seconds.

Taurasi's three-quarters-court shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

Phoenix's losing streak is one short of the franchise record.

Taurasi, who bruised her back at Washington on Sunday and missed Tuesday night's loss at Atlanta, started Thursday. She hit her first shot, a 14-foot baseline jumper in the first quarter, but missed her next four attempts and never seemed to get any offensive rhythm. She finished the half with two rebounds and an assist in 14 minutes. Taurasi played just three minutes in the third quarter but started the fourth.

Dupree added nine rebounds while Tangela Smith had 17 points and six rebounds for the Mercury. Tameka Johnson had 15 points and 11 assists.

Monique Currie, who had 18 points, scored nine straight to spark a 13-2 start for the Mystics in the third quarter, giving them a 55-48 lead with 6:48 left. But the Mercury scored nine points on three consecutive possessions to get even. Washington took a 73-68 lead into the final period.