McCray, Holdsclaw Lead Mystics

Nikki McCray scored 25 points and Chamique Holdsclaw had 23 to lead the Washington Mystics past the Cleveland Rockers, 63-62, on Saturday in a WNBA game before 10,479 at Cleveland.

McCray, who scored only two points in the first half, made two free throws with 21.1 seconds left to play as the Mystics (9-17) held off the Rockers (6-20).

McCray was 10 for 21 from the field.

The Mystics beat the Rockers for the first time in three games this season. The teams play again today in Washington.

Charlotte 64, Orlando 60--Vicky Bullett had a club-record six steals as the Sting beat the Miracle before 10,523 at Charlotte to take a half-game lead over idle New York in the Eastern Conference.

Bullett led a defensive effort that helped the Sting force 19 turnovers and convert them into 17 points on the way to their seventh victory in nine games.

“I’m always looking to do whatever I can to help my team, and if it’s defense, then that’s what you’ll get from me,” Bullett said.

Bullett had 10 points and eight rebounds for Charlotte (15-12), which built a 10-point lead before failing to get a field goal in the last four minutes.

The Miracle (10-15), losing for the fourth consecutive time on the road and the fifth time in six games overall, got 25 points from Shannon Johnson.

Utah 80, Minnesota 70--Margo Dydek scored 19 points and had a game-high eight rebounds to lead the Starzz over the Lynx before 7,583 at Salt Lake City.

It was Utah’s first win in three games against Minnesota (12-13), which lost its third in a row.

Utah (10-15) used a 13-0 run to take an early 30-21 lead on the way to a 36-30 halftime lead, thanks to 10 points off the bench by reserve Natalie Williams, who finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Minnesota got a game-high 24 points from Brandy Reed, including 17 in the second half.

Sacramento 71, Phoenix 60--Kedra Holland-Corn scored 15 of her 21 points in the first half to lead the Monarchs over the Mercury before 7,590 at Sacramento.

It was the third consecutive win for the Monarchs, who improved to 9-3 at home and moved four games ahead of Minnesota in the race for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

Yolanda Griffith had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Monarchs (17-10). who used a 16-2 first-half run to take a 36-28 halftime lead over the Mercury (11-14).

Sacramento guard Ruthie Bolton-Holifield sat out the game because of a lower back strain.