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Beard, Mystics continue playoff push

Aug 7, 2007 - 7:48 PM SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Alana Beard and the Washington Mystics continued their charge toward a playoff spot.

Beard scored 19 points - including six in the final three minutes - as Washington captured its third straight win with a 77-73 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Tuesday.

Already in possession of the fourth and final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference due to Sunday's 71-66 victory, the Mystics solidified their hold on it by handing the Silver Stars their third home loss in four games.

With a 10-2 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters, Washington grabbed its largest lead of the game at 64-53 following a layup by Nakia Sanford with seven minutes remaining. Sanford finished with 18 points.

San Antonio (17-12), which held the top spot in the Western Conference over Phoenix (18-11) by percentage points coming in, rallied to close within 75-73 on a 3-pointer by Helen Darling with 6.3 seconds left.

However, Beard sank two free throws with 5.7 seconds left, and the Silver Stars missed a 3-point attempt in the closing seconds.

Sophia Young tied a career high with 26 points and Darling had 18 for San Antonio.