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Mystics-Sky Preview

Jun 25, 2010 - 2:41 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Washington (7-4) at Chicago (5-8), 8:30 p.m. EDT

Winners of four straight, the Washington Mystics have been playing outstanding defense in the last two weeks. No one is more aware of that than the Chicago Sky.

In their third meeting this month, the Mystics look for their fifth straight win as they visit the Sky on Friday night.

Washington (8-4) will try to win five straight for the first time since Sept. 7-17, 2004, after extending its winning streak with a 68-53 win over Los Angeles on Thursday. Crystal Langhorne scored a career-high 27 points and had 14 rebounds, and the Mystics held the Sparks to 35.8 percent shooting and forced 21 turnovers.

Langhorne, who averaged 9.3 points her previous three games, shot 10 of 14.

"She has a like a magnet inside of her, and there's one in the basketball," teammate Lindsey Harding said. "And anytime someone missed it just goes right in her hands. People say that she has a nose for the ball and she does."

With Langhorne battling inside, Washington was able to continue to its tough defensive play. It's holding opponents to 64.3 points per game during the winning streak after giving up 80 or more points in four of the previous five.

The Mystics are tied with the Indiana Fever for the top scoring defense, yielding an average of 71.1 points.

Two of the outstanding defensive efforts by Washington during that stretch have come against Chicago (5-8). Last Saturday, the Mystics limited the Sky to 20 second-half points in a 65-61 overtime win.

Washington also had an outstanding second half in a 95-78 win against Chicago on June 11, outscoring the Sky 50-36.

While the Mystics will try again to take advantage of Chicago's late scoring troubles, the Sky are hoping they've turned the corner after snapping a four-game losing streak with an 86-77 win over Connecticut on Tuesday, rallying from an eight-point deficit.

"I don't want to say this was a must-win but it kind of was," coach Stephen Key said. "I think we're a better team than our record."

Epiphanny Price scored 19 points and Erin Thorn added a season-high 18, helping to make up for Sylvia Fowles, who was limited to 12 because of foul trouble.

"I think this definitely was a momentum builder," said Prince, who has scored a combined 16 points in the two losses to Washington. "I think this showed we can play with anybody."

The Sky play their next three at home, where they've lost three straight.