WNBA capsules: Mystics beat Fever 87-82, clinch playoff berth

Emma Meesseman scored 21 points and Kristi Toliver had 12 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter to help the Washington Mystics beat the Indiana Fever 87-82 on Sunday night in Indianapolis to clinch a playoff spot.

Tierra Ruffin-Pratt also scored 18 points, Ivory Latta added 10 and Krystal Thomas had nine points and 11 rebounds for Washington (17-12).

After Marissa Coleman hit a 3-pointer to cap a 19-6 run that gave Indiana (9-21) its first lead of the second half, Toliver answered with a 3 of her own to give the Mystics a 67-66 lead with 6:24 remaining. Two minutes later, Toliver hit another 3-pointer to give Washington a five-point lead and, after the Fever tied it at 72-all, Toliver converted a three-point play with 3:06 to go and the Mystics led the rest of the way. She hit another 3 – her fifth of the game – to make it 82-75 with 1:17 left and Washington hit 5 of 6 free throws from there to seal it.

Coleman made a career-best six 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 20 points for Indiana and Candice Dupree scored 18 and had seven assists. The Fever, who have lost four in a row, were eliminated from playoff contention.

New York 70, Minnesota 61: Tina Charles scored 19 points and Epiphanny Prince added 15 to help New York beat the short-handed Lynx in New York, clinching a playoff berth for the Liberty.

The Liberty have won five straight games, including beating the top three teams in the league the past three contests.

New York (17-12) trailed by 11 in the first half before cutting its deficit to five at the half. The Liberty took the lead for good in the third quarter on two free throws by Sugar Rodgers with 40 seconds left in the period.

Minnesota was down 47-46 early in the fourth before New York scored 15 of the next 17 points to take control.

Maya Moore scored 22 points to lead the Lynx (22-6), who were missing starters Lindsay Whalen and Rebekkah Brunson to injuries.

Connecticut 94, Phoenix 66: Alyssa Thomas had 17 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, Jonquel Jones added 20 points and eight rebounds and the Sun beat the Mercury in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Courtney Williams had 16 points, Jasmine Thomas finished with 14 and Shekinna Stricklen added 12 for Connecticut (19-10). The Sun shot 52.9 percent (37 of 70) from the field, including 8 of 20 from 3-point range.

Connecticut led 46-45 at halftime, but limited Phoenix to just 21 second-half points, its lowest-scoring half of the season. Jasmine Thomas hit two 3-pointers during a 16-2 run to open the third quarter and the Sun led by double figures the rest of the way. They scored 16 consecutive points late in the fourth quarter to take a 94-64 lead, the biggest of the game, with 1:54 to play.

Brittney Griner led Phoenix (15-14) with 18 points, and Monique Curry had 12. The Mercury shot just 33.8 percent (24 of 71) from the field, their second-worst shooting percentage of the season.

Seattle 103, Chicago 66: Breanna Stewart had 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Jewell Loyd and Alysha Clark scored 17 points apiece and the Seattle Storm never trailed in a victory over the Chicago Sky in Rosemont, Illinois.

Crystal Langhorne and Sami Whitcomb each added 10 points for Seattle (14-16). The Storm have won four in a row and are tied with Dallas for the eighth and final playoff spot, 2 1/2 games in front of the Sky.

Stewart and Sue Bird hit back-to-back 3-pointers during a 10-0 run that gave Seattle a 12-2 lead and Loyd’s putback of a missed layup by Langhorne made it 19-4 with 4:31 left in the first quarter. The Storm led by double figures the rest of the way.

Stefanie Dolson led Chicago (11-18) with 10 points. The Sky made just 3 of 16 (18.8 percent) from 3-point range and committed 16 turnovers.

Seattle hit 12 3-pointers, shot 52.6 percent from the field and had franchise-record 34 assists on 41 made field goals. Every player on the Storm roster made at least one field goal.