Holdsclaw gets help from mates in Mystics victory

Chamique Holdsclaw scored 24 points, Stacey Dales-Schumann matched her season-high with 12, and the host Washington Mystics got their first win at the MCI Center with a 76-60 victory Thursday night over the slumping San Antonio Silver Stars.

Holdsclaw made 11 of 21 shots and grabbed 10 rebounds, but she didn’t have to carry a lopsided share of the load for a change. Dales-Schumann, 5 for 7 from the field, and Murriel Page led a surge late in the first half — while Holdsclaw sat — that gave the Mystics the lead for good.

San Antonio set a franchise record with its seventh consecutive loss.

The Mystics (4-5) improved to 2-4 at home, but their other “home” victory came when they were displaced by a Madonna concert and had to play at the Comcast Center in Maryland.

The Mystics have also won two straight, their first winning streak of the season. This was also their first victory of the season by more than two points.

Marie Ferdinand scored 12 points — shooting just 2 for 11 from the field but making all eight free throws — to lead the Silver Stars (3-8).

Monarchs 60, Lynx 50: At Minneapolis, Ticha Penicheiro had 10 points and seven assists and made a key 3-pointer down the stretch as Sacramento snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Minnesota.

Hamchetou Maiga tied a career-high with 12 points, and Yolanda Griffith had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Monarchs, who scored 25 points off turnovers.

Katie Smith had 16 points, and Nicole Ohlde added 13 for the Lynx, who committed a season-high 25 turnovers.