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Whalen leads Sun to 96-67 win over Mystics

Connecticut Sun's Lindsay Whalen, left, tries to get a pass by Washington Mystics' Lindsey Harding during the first half of their WNBA basketball game in Uncasville, Conn., on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

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Washington Mystics' Alana Beard, right, drives to the hoop while being guarded by Connecticut Sun's Sandrine Gruda during the second half of their WNBA basketball game in Uncasville, Conn., on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009. Beard scored a game-high 18 points and had seven rebounds during her team's 96-67 loss. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

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Washington Mystics' Lindsey Harding drives to the hoop while being guarded by Connecticut Sun's Amber Holt, left, and Kiesha Brown during the first half of their WNBA basketball game in Uncasville, Conn., on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

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The Associated Press Updated 6:21 PM Sunday, August 9, 2009

UNCASVILLE, Conn. —Lindsay Whalen had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the Connecticut Sun's 96-67 victory over the Washington Mystics on Sunday.

Connecticut (11-10) tied Washington (11-10) for second place in the Eastern Conference.

Connecticut led by 10 entering the fourth quarter, when Whalen scored nine points as the Sun gradually pulled away.

Anete Jekabsone-Zogota added 15 points for Connecticut, while Asjha Jones and Sandrine Gruda had 14 apiece and Tan White scored 13.

"It was good to beat a team we needed to beat — ahead of us in the standings," Sun coach Mike Thibault said. "It was good to see all five starters in double figures. It was almost like the perfect box score, offensively."

Jones set a franchise record with her 18th straight game scoring in double figures.

Alana Beard had 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Mystics. After getting 16 points in the first half, she was held scoreless for the first 12:36 of the second half.

"They did a good job of closing the lane and making me pass," Beard said.

Crystal Langhorne added 14 points and Lindsay Harding 11 for Washington.

The Mystics led by seven early, but trailed by 10 at halftime.

"We didn't compete," Beard said. "We made a lot of mistakes and it hurt us."

Connecticut forward Tamika Whitmore returned after missing 10 games because of a right knee injury. Before the injury, Whitmore had played in 204 straight games, the longest active streak in the league.

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August 09, 2009 10:12 PM EDT

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