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BOX SCORE
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Mawadi Mabika picked a good time to start
making her shots.
In front of 16,295, the largest WNBA crowd this season, Mabika
scored the final two of her 12 points on a game-winning runner in
the lane with 24 seconds remaining to give the Sparks their sixth
consecutive win, 74-72 over the Mystics on Monday night.
The victory allowed the Sparks to remain a game within Western Conference-leading Houston, which also won Monday night.
|  | | Washington's Vicky Bullett tries to grab the ball from a prone Mwadi Mabika. |
"It was a long day for me," said Mabika, who shot 4-for-16
from the floor. "I was missing it all day. I was just trying to
play 1-on-1 and it went in."
Washington (6-6) had a chance to tie, but Nikki McCray's jumper
at the buzzer fell short.
"I think we had a good look to tie it," Mystics coach Nancy
Darsch said. "Maybe it wasn't as clean as it could have been, but
we had a good look."
The Mystics, who have lost all four of their games against
Western Conference opponents this season, got 48 of their 72 points
from McCray and Chamique Holdsclaw -- 23 and 25, respectively.
McCray and Holdsclaw combined to take 45 of Washington's 66
shots, including Holdsclaw's team-record 27. The previous record
was 23 attempts by McCray.
"On the last road trip, I wasn't taking a lot of shots,"
McCray said. "Obviously we have to do the bulk of the scoring."
Los Angeles (10-2) had five players score in double figures and
some players hinted that the Mystics' lack of balanced scoring hurt
them.
"We take a lot of pride in everyone being a threat," said
Delisha Milton, who finished with 10 points. "They have two
players that take 80 percent of the shots. That makes you easy to
guard."
McCray and Holdsclaw also scored 34 of the Mystics' 39
second-half points.
The Sparks were led by Tamecka Dixon with 13 points, but she
left the game in the second half with a sprained left ankle. Most
of the offense for the Sparks came on nine 3-pointers.
"L.A. shot very well tonight," Darsch said. "I know the stat
sheet says only 44 percent, but it seemed like the money shots were
the one's they really hit."
However, Lisa Leslie's offensive woes in the first half
continued. On Sunday, Leslie was held to two first-half points by
the Liberty and Monday was held to four by the Mystics. However,
she finished with 12 points and a team-high 14 rebounds.
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ALSO SEE
WNBA Scoreboard
Leslie comes alive in second half as Sparks triumph
RECAPS
Los Angeles 74
Washington 72
Houston 70
Orlando 58
Utah 89
Sacramento 80
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Mwadi Mabika hits the game winning shot against Washington.
avi: 745 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Chamique Holdsclaw elevates for the layup.
avi: 1071 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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