Washington Mystics forward Myisha Hines-Allen (2) drives against Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles (34) during a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Washington. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via AP)
Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via AP
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) shoots over Washington Mystics guard Kiara Leslie (1) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Washington. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via AP)
Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via AP
Washington Mystics center Tina Charles (31), left, defends against Washington Mystics' Layshia Clarendon during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Washington. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via AP)
Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via AP
Washington Mystics guard Kiara Leslie, left, and Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride (21) battle for the ball during a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Washington. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tina Charles scored 31 points and the Washington Mystics held off the Minnesota Lynx for an 85-81 win on Tuesday night.
Charles had four points in the final minute for the Mystics (3-5), a wide-open layup off a midcourt inbounds play at 22.3 seconds and a pair of free throws with 6.4 seconds left.
Myisha Hines-Allen added 19 points, Ariel Atkins scored 17, and Natasha Cloud had 11 points, eight assists and a career-high six steals.
Washington took the lead for good on a run of 12 straight points capped by Charles’ three-point play and Hines-Allen’s 11-foot jumper to make it 59-48. The Mystics extended to their largest lead at 68-50 late in the third quarter.
Napheesa Collier had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Lynx (3-5). Sylvia Fowles scored 15 points, and Layshia Clarendon had 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Dangerfield, who scored 10 points, hit a half court shot for the Lynx at the third-quarter buzzer.
___
More AP women’s basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
