Liberty loses to Mystics
WASHINGTON -- Matee Ajavon tied a career high with 32 points to help the Washington Mystics cruise to an 91-81 victory over the Liberty last night.
Crystal Langhorne added 20 points for Washington (4-14), which set a season high for points in regulation and hit 28 of 29 free throws while snapping a four-game skid.
Cappie Pondexter scored 21 points and Plenette Pierson added 20 for the Liberty (12-9), which lost for the fourth time in 12 games. The Liberty made all 18 of its free throws.
The Mystics also scored a season-high 50 points in a first half during which they shot 56 percent (15 of 27) from the floor and 95 percent (18 of 19) from the line, and outrebounded the Liberty 18-7.
Washington outscored New York 32-15 in one first-half stretch, eventually pushing the lead to 44-25 when Ajavon hit a three-pointer from the left wing.
New York closed to it to 50-38 by halftime, but Washington again seized control in the third quarter.
Ajavon's putback of an airball miss made it 68-46 with 2:57 left in the third. It was the second-largest lead Washington had held all season. New York got no closer than nine points in the fourth quarter.
Newly acquired Kara Braxton did not play for the Liberty, two days after a trade that sent forward Sidney Spencer to the Phoenix Mercury. Braxton, a 2007 All-Star who is averaging 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds this season, is expected to debut Tuesday against Seattle.
