Liberty stay in playoff hunt

The New York Liberty got the victory they needed to preserve their chances for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Janel McCarville scored 18 points and Shameka Christon added 12, including the go-ahead free throws with 9.8 seconds remaining, to help New York beat the Mystics, 73-72, last night in Washington.

The Liberty (14-18), winners of two of their last three games, pulled within one-half game of the Mystics for the fourth seed. Cathrine Kraayeveld added 15 points for New York, which took three of four from Washington to win the season series and earn the tiebreaker.

The Liberty close the regular season with two home games, against Connecticut tonight and Chicago Sunday.

If the Liberty win both games, they'll earn the playoff spot. If New York splits, it'll need Washington to lose its finale Sunday to the Sun.

Lynx 87, Shock 77 -- Svetlana Abrosimova scored a season-high 25 points and Seimone Augustus added 19 as host Minnesota topped Detroit.

Abrosimova hit her fourth 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter to give the Lynx a 31-16 lead and become the 51st player in WNBA history to score 2,000 points. Minnesota (9-24) set a record for points in the quarter and tied a team mark with seven 3-pointers.

Sky 81, Comets 70 -- Stacey Dales scored 17 points to lead Chicago at Houston.

Candice Dupree had 14 points, Jia Perkins added 13, Brooke Wyckoff 12, and Dominique Canty 10 for the second-year Sky (14-19).