Ivory Latta scores season-high 25 as Mystics clinch playoff spot with OT win

Sep 8, 2015, 11:08 pm

WASHINGTON -- Ivory Latta scored a season-high 25 points, and the Washington Mystics beat the Indiana Fever 76-72 in overtime Tuesday night to clinch their third straight WNBA playoff spot.

Washington trailed 72-68 with 2:44 left in overtime but held Indiana scoreless down the stretch. LaToya Sanders had a go-ahead follow shot with 49 seconds remaining, and Latta and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt sealed it with free throws.

Tayler Hill added 14 points for Washington (17-15), which snapped a four-game losing streak.

Latta's three-point play with 1:10 left in regulation gave Washington a 66-64 lead -- its first since 40-39. Layshia Clarendon answered with a runner just before the shot clock buzzer to tie it at 66. Latta's baseline runner fell short at the fourth-quarter buzzer.

Clarendon led Indiana (18-14) with 15 points.

Indiana trailed by three at halftime, but Marissa Coleman and Shenise Johnson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cap a 16-2 third-quarter run for a 51-40 lead.