Mystics beat Fever 87-82, clinch playoff berth (Aug 20, 2017)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) 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 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.
