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Aug 14, 2009 - 3:22 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Connecticut (11-10) at Washington (11-11), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Washington Mystics' slump is largely due to their struggles in the fourth quarter. Alana Beard didn't help matters with a poor performance against the Connecticut Sun.

Beard and the Mystics look to avoid losing three straight for the first time this season as they face the Sun on Friday night in the teams' second matchup in six days.

Washington (11-11) has dropped consecutive games for the third time this year, losing 96-67 at Connecticut on Sunday and 81-77 to Detroit at home two days later. The Mystics were outscored by a combined 67-35 margin in the fourth quarter of those two contests.

"I think we have to have a sense of urgency to get stops," Washington coach Julie Plank said. "This team is a little bit fragile. There's been games that we've had leads and held on to them and made big plays down the stretch."

Against the Shock, Beard had 17 points but missed two shots and turned the ball over on three straight possessions in the closing minutes. After scoring 16 points in the first half versus the Sun (12-10), Beard was held scoreless for the first 12:36 of the second half and finished with 16.

The Mystics, losers of three of four, desperately need better play from their star in clutch situations. Beard is averaging 17.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals.

Washington, though, didn't need a spectacular game from Beard to beat Connecticut 81-77 on June 6, the teams' season opener. She was held to a season-low seven points.

Sun forward Asjha Jones had a game-high 22 points in that contest. She was held to six points against Seattle on Thursday night, but Connecticut won 64-53 for its second straight victory.

Jones had a team-high 10 rebounds, but her franchise-record streak of 18 straight games scoring in double figures came to an end. She leads the Sun with 16.9 points a contest.

Connecticut won Thursday despite shooting 38 percent (23 for 60). That poor shooting, however, was offset by a defense that held an opponent under 70 points for the third time in four games as the Sun limited the Storm to 30 percent (17 for 56) from the field.

Connecticut also continued its unselfish play offensively, recording 18 assists. The Sun are second in the WNBA with 17.7 assists per game.

Lindsay Whalen had seven assists Thursday to become the 10th player in WNBA history to reach 900. Whalen had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists to lead Connecticut in its last matchup with Washington.