Charles helps Sun hang on to beat Mystics again

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tina Charles scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lift the Connecticut Sun over the Washington Mystics 77-70 on Tuesday night.

The Sun (20-7) have beaten the Mystics (5-22) nine straight times, including all five matchups this season. Connecticut's victory on Tuesday was its narrowest in the streak.

Crystal Langhorne led the Mystics with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting — her highest-scoring game since she scored 24 points against the New York Liberty on July 13 — and added nine rebounds. But Washington lost its season-worst sixth in a row.

Charles scored with 46 seconds left to give Connecticut a 73-70 lead and grabbed a defensive rebound on the ensuing Washington possession. Mystics guard Noelle Quinn answered with a steal, but Washington turned the ball over and began intentionally fouling.

Charles, who entered fourth in the WNBA in scoring, didn't record her first point until 30.6 seconds remained in the first quarter. That began a 13-0 run, and the Sun grabbed a lead they would hold until midway through the fourth.

The Mystics — boosted by 10 points each from Quinn and Shannon Bobbitt — hung around for most of the game after leading 23-16 late in the first quarter. After Connecticut extended its lead to 13 points in the third, Washington used an 8-0 run to get within three points in the fourth.

Later in the quarter, Bobbitt hit a 3-pointer with the shot clock expiring. Matee Ajavon made shots on two consecutive possessions, including a 3-pointer, to give the Mystics a 67-66 lead.

Sun forward Mistie Mims returned after missing two games because of a strained quad. She had 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Kara Lawson added 16 points and four assists for Connecticut, which was without forward Asjha Jones for a ninth straight game because of a strained left Achilles tendon.