Shakira Austin scored 31 points to lead the Washington Mystics to a 105-100 victory over the Fire on Sunday night.
Washington trailed 49-47 at halftime after a competitive opening two quarters, but the Mystics stayed within striking distance and turned the game in their favor after the break.
The difference came down the stretch, when Washington generated enough offense to move in front and hold off the Fire in a high-scoring fourth quarter. The Mystics finished the night shooting 54.0% from the field, giving them a slight efficiency advantage over a Fire team that shot 49.0%.
Austin anchored the Washington offense with 31 points, while Kiki Iriafen supplied another strong all-around performance. Iriafen finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and two assists, giving the Mystics an important second scoring option and a presence on the glass.
Carla Leite led the Fire with 27 points and 11 assists while adding two rebounds. Her production helped keep the Fire within reach, but Washington ultimately produced enough offense late to secure the five-point win.
The victory improved the Mystics to 22-15 on the season. The Fire dropped to 15-22.
