Mystics beat Fever 87-82, clinch playoff berth

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Emma Meesseman scored 21 points and Kristi Toliver had 12 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter to help the Washington Mystics beat the Indiana Fever 87-82 on Sunday night to clinch a playoff spot.

Tierra Ruffin-Pratt also scored 18 points, Ivory Latta added 10 and Krystal Thomas had nine points and 11 rebounds for Washington (17-12).

After Marissa Coleman hit a 3-pointer to cap a 19-6 run that gave Indiana (9-21) its first lead of the second half, Toliver answered with a 3 of her own to give the Mystics a 67-66 lead with 6:24 remaining. Two minutes later, Toliver hit another 3-pointer to give Washington a five-point lead and, after the Fever tied it at 72-all, Toliver converted a three-point play with 3:06 to go and the Mystics led the rest of the way. She hit another 3 - her fifth of the game - to make it 82-75 with 1:17 left and Washington hit 5 of 6 free throws from there to seal it.

Coleman made a career-best six 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 20 points for Indiana and Candice Dupree scored 18 and had seven assists. The Fever, who have lost four in a row, were eliminated from playoff contention.