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Sun 74, Mystics 84

Aug 11, 2010 - 3:29 AM WASHINGTON (AP) -- Crystal Langhorne and the Washington Mystics learned from their last game against the Connecticut Sun.

Langhorne had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and the Mystics pulled away for an 84-74 victory over the Sun on Tuesday night.

In the opener of consecutive games between the teams, the Mystics also led 37-34 at halftime, but the Sun used a 24-4 run to take control Sunday. This time, Washington opened the second half with a 21-6 run.

"Last time we played them they made a run in the second half," Langhorne said. "We were talking about it at halftime. We wanted to step up in the second half and play harder than they did. We did. We really wanted to win this game and showed it."

Monique Currie scored 17 points and Katie Smith had 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.

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 for the Sun (14-15), who clinched the season series Sunday and hold the tiebreaker.

With Washington Wizards guard and 2010 No. 1 overall draft pick John Wall sitting courtside, the Mystics scored the opening basket and never trailed. Langhorne scored seven points in the key second-half run.

"We wanted to make sure that we were coming out in the third quarter and not giving up a little or momentum right off the bat," Smith said. "I thought everybody was locked in about we needed to get done."

The Mystics shot 59 percent (16 of 27) in the second half, hurting Connecticut's ability to get easy baskets on the other end.

"We didn't get to fast break as much as we like too," Montgomery said. "They hit a lot of shots, so it's hard to fast break on a made shot. It was a tough game."

The Mystics improved to 10-4 at home with the win, the first of a crucial three-game homestand with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season.

"This week is huge," Currie said.

Asjha Jones added 14 points, Kara Lawson had 11 and Sandrine Gruda 10 for the Sun, who have lost four of five.

"We just have to control what we can," Montgomery said about the Sun's fading playoff chances. "We just have to handle things on our end and wait and see what happens."