WNBA ROUNDUP

Liberty 74, Mystics 66

Tina Charles and Epiphanny Prince each scored 20 points and the New York Liberty used a stellar defensive effort in the fourth quarter to beat the Washington Mystics 74-66 on Friday night.

The Liberty (19-12) have won seven straight and moved 1.5 games in front of Washington (17-13) for the fourth seed in the playoffs. The Liberty, who are on their longest winning streak since 2010 when they won 10 straight, hold the tiebreaker with the Mystics.

The Liberty led by one heading into the fourth quarter before holding Washington

to just six points in the fourth quarter. The Liberty scored 11 of the first 13 points in the period to extend the advantage to 72-62 with 1:42 left in the game.

Emma Meesseman’s layup with just over a minute left was the Mystics second basket of the quarter and got them within eight. Elena Delle Donne then scored to get Washington within six, but that’s as close as they could get.

Delle Donne had been sidelined since the beginning of August with a torn ligament in her left thumb. The Mystics’ leading scorer missed six games and Washington went 3-3. She finished with 15 points.

Krystal Thomas led the Mystics with 17 points.

Lynx 89, Stars 70

Maya Moore scored 24 points as Minnesota beat San Antonio to secure a spot in the semifinals of the playoffs.

Moore made 7 of 8 shots in the first half and scored 18 points to help Minnesota build a 46-37 lead. San Antonio started the fourth quarter on an 8-1 run to get within 11 points, but Minnesota scored the next 10 points to regain control.

Sylvia Fowles had 11 points and 10 rebounds for her 17th double-double for Minnesota (24-6). Natasha Howard added 11 points and nine rebounds.