Mystics Topple Their Learning Curve, Monarchs

The Washington Mystics have regularly referred to the first half of this season as a learning experience. As though they are students in a classroom trying to master new material. Little has come easy -- they've been in four games decided by two or fewer points, given up several double-digit leads and been taught a few lessons by older, wiser opponents.

But with each hiccup, and each victory that they eked out the hard way, the 2009 Mystics show they're taking their coursework in stride. Sunday against the league-worst Sacramento Monarchs at Verizon Center, Washington showed its developing savvy in an 87-73 win that gave the Mystics back-to-back victories for the first time since they opened the season on a 3-0 run.

All told, Washington (9-7) could choose one of two options against Sacramento (4-15), which has won one of its past eight contests. Take control against one of the league's weaker opponents and leave no doubt that the Mystics, who sit in third place in the Eastern Conference, are a changed team or slip into a trap and make this game closer than it would need to be. Washington opted for the former.

"I think we did a really good job controlling the game," said forward Crystal Langhorne, who recorded a game-high 19 points and eight rebounds. "I think a lot of the early games we were making silly mistakes down the stretch, and you can tell we're getting used to each other. When certain people have the ball in certain situations, we just know how to handle things and what to do."

The Mystics, who finished their longest homestand this season 4-2, dominated the first quarter -- amassing a 30-13 lead. Led by point guard Lindsey Harding's 10 points and four coast-to-coast plays that she capitalized on, Washington shot 59 percent (13 for 22) in the opening frame.

When Harding, who entered the game leading the WNBA in playing time at 35.7 minutes per game, was given a roughly four-minute rest in the second quarter, the Monarchs tried to bring themselves back in the game. Washington's offense doesn't flow with the confidence it has grown accustomed to without the starting point guard on the floor, and it was held without a field goal until Alana Beard scored on a layup with just more than six minutes remaining in the half.

The damage was minimal though, as the Mystics held a nine-point edge heading into the break. They had successfully counteracted Sacramento's perimeter pressure by bringing the ball inside and recorded 32 of their 45 first-half points in the lane.

"I like to play faster but I know that it was best to go pick and roll to let Lindsay create, Alana create," Mystics Coach Julie Plank said. "They were showing really hard and I just thought we had to play out of it -- not run plays as much, but run some pick and rolls and just let them play."

Washington continued to pummel Sacramento in the lane in the second half as post players Langhorne, Chasity Melvin and Nakia Sanford combined to score 21 points by layups and working their way to the free throw line. The teams were whistled for a combined 44 personal fouls that muddied the tempo, but put the Mystics in the double bonus midway through the third quarter. Six of their final 10 points in the third came as free throws.

The Monarchs kept the Mystics honest with their effort but never drew closer than when they cut the deficit to five points off a jump shot by guard Kara Lawson, who led Sacramento with 16 points, with 3 minutes 46 seconds remaining.

After Lawson's basket, Melvin, who recorded 10 points and four rebounds, sunk layups on two consecutive possessions to reestablish control.

Monique Currie, who is having the worst year of her four-year professional career and entered averaging 6.6 points, finished with 12 points to mark her first double-digit scoring effort since June 25 when Washington fell, 93-87, to Phoenix.