Sky halts Mystics' streak with 79-72 win

Not this time.

The Chicago Sky finally put its collective foot down on Friday night, wanting no part in watching the Washington Mystics celebrate yet another victory.

The Mystics had had their way with the Chicago Sky this season, winning in grandiose fashion at Allstate Arena a couple of weeks ago, and then rallying to steal a win in overtime last week on their own floor.

"We had the mentality that 'We're not going to lose again to this team tonight,' " Sky guard Jia Perkins said. "It started off in yesterday's practice and in today's shoot-around. We came out tonight and knew what we had to do and we did it."

The Sky gladly took care of business in front of the home fans at Allstate with a 79-72 victory over the Mystics, who entered the game as the hottest team in the WNBA with four straight victories.

The Sky (6-8) is riding a two-game winning streak.

"This feels good, another good win. It's good to keep it going," said guard Dominique Canty, one of four Sky players in double figures with 13 points.

Jia Perkins paved the way for the Sky with 20 points. She also rolled up a team-leading 5 assists and 5 steals.

"It was the fight we showed tonight," Canty said. "We got a lot of stops when we needed them. We had people hitting big shots, like Jia. That was the old Jia out there."

Perkins got off to a rough start offensively this season. But over the last few games, she has regained the shooting touch that made her a WNBA all-star last season.

Perkins was 8-for-14 from the field and was looking to shoot when the Sky was trying to put the game away late in the fourth quarter.

"I'm just getting comfortable, just getting comfortable," Perkins said with a smile. "I'm happy, though."

The Sky was also happy to maintain a lead and even add to it when center Sylvia Fowles was forced into some extended, fourth-quarter bench time due to foul trouble. Still, Fowles managed to add 16 points.

Rookie guard Epiphanny Prince had another big game off the bench, scoring 14 points.

"Sylvia got going early," Sky coach Steven Key said. "And when that happens, it really opens things up for us outside."

Washington (8-5) was led by center Crystal Langhorne. She scored a game-high 25 points.