Delle Donne, Sky roll 93-79

WASHINGTON — Elena Delle Donne found her shooting touch just in time to help the Chicago Sky pull away Sunday.

The rookie scored 22 points as the Sky defeated Washington 93-79 to prevent the Mystics from clinching a playoff spot.

“I was missing all my open shots,” said Delle Donne, who went only 6 of 18 from the floor but hit some crucial, difficult jumpers late. “I guess it was better when I was contested.”

Epiphanny Prince added 21 points for the Sky (22-9), who already have clinched the Eastern Conference’s top playoff spot and finished the five-game season series with 4 victories over the Mystics.

Swin Cash had 16 points and Sylvia Fowles had 13 points and 9 rebounds to help Chicago won its seventh game in its last eight.

Down 63-58 at the end of the third, Washington closed within 3 on Kia Vaughn’s inside basket to open the fourth.

But the Sky responded with a 12-2 game-sealing run sparked in part by Prince’s drawn charge on Tierra Ruffin’s layup attempt.

Delle Donne hit 2 fading jumpers in the spurt and a free throw after a technical foul was assessed to Ivory Latta. Delle Donne’s latter jumper, off the dribble from the baseline, made it 75-62 to cap the run.

“Time was running down (on the shot clock)”, Delle Donne said. “Everyone seemed to be denied, so I just decided to elevate and shoot over.”