Beard, Mystics leave Sun in the dark

Alana Beard scored 20 points, 16 in the second half, to the lead the Washington Mystics to a 91-75 win over the Connecticut Sun last night in Uncasville, Conn.

Tamara James scored 13 points for Washington (4-10), and Nikki Teasley and Nikki Blue each had 12.

Katie Douglas scored 19 points and Erika Desousa added 16 points for the Sun (5-9).

Washington took control of the game with a 15-2 run in the second quarter while holding the Sun without a field goal for more than six minutes. The Mystics led, 37-28, at halftime and posted consecutive victories for the first time this season.

Beard scored 11 points in the third quarter as Washington maintained its momentum and stretched the lead to 64-49.

"That's been all season for me," Beard said. "I guess I just know it's my time in the second half and I step up to the challenge."

Beard also scored her team's first two baskets of the final period before picking up her fourth foul with 8:15 left. She went to the bench and wouldn't return as the Mystics opened up a 24-point lead before subbing out their starters.

"I'm tired of watching the same stuff every night," Sun coach Mike Thibault said. "I'm tired of seeing the same mistakes. I don't know what the answer is but we're going to get to the bottom of some of this real quick. I'm at my wit's end."

Comets 75, Silver Stars 67 -- Tina Thompson scored all 17 of her points in the second half to power host Houston.

Thompson struggled in the first half, missing all five of her shots, but went 4 for 7 in the second half as the Comets (3-11) won their third straight game at home.

Storm 94, Sky 76 -- Lauren Jackson scored 33 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to spark host Seattle's rout of Chicago. Jackson, the league's leading scorer, had 16 points and eight rebounds in the first half for the Storm (7-6).

Monarchs 59, Liberty 46 -- Rebekkah Brunson had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Sacramento never trailed against visiting New York.