WNBA: Washington Mystics outlasts Chicago Sky in Overtime behind Tina Charles’ 34 points

Tina Charles, the leading scorer in the WNBA, registered her 17th career game of at least 20 points against the Sky

FILE PHOTO: Washington Mystics center Tina Charles (31) in action at a WNBA basketball game in Los Angeles.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Washington Mystics snaps a four-game losing streak with an 89-85 overtime victory against the host Chicago Sky on Saturday night.

Tina Charles notched 34 points and 17 rebounds, and Ariel Atkins scored 14 points.

Charles, the leading scorer in the WNBA, registered her 17th career game of atleast 20 points against the Sky (10-10), who enters the league's Olympic break with two straight defeats.

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (12 points) and Theresa Plaisance (10) also finished in double figures for the Mystics (8-10).

After trailing by six with 4:28 to go, the Sky surged ahead with a 10-3 runover the next 3:25.

Stefanie Dolson hit a layup with four seconds remaining in regulation to put Chicago ahead 82-80.

Atkins missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer from the wing, but the rebound caromed right to Charles, whose put back was good just ahead of the buzzer, sending the game to Overtime.

Triumph beyond injuries

Only eight players were available for Washington, including Natasha Cloud, who dished 11 assists while playing under a minutes restriction due to a sprained right ankle.

Elena Delle Donne (back), Erica McCall (sprained right knee) and Myisha Hines-Allen (strained left patella) each were out, while Leilani Mitchell was away with the Australian Olympic team.

The Mystics seemingly seized control with a 16-5 run in the third quarter and led by 11 on a Charles trey with 7:12 to play, the team's first basket of thefourth.

Dolson led Chicago with 20 points, while Candace Parker (17 points, 13rebounds) and Courtney Vandersloot (13 points, 15 assists) both registereddouble-doubles.

Vandersloot established a WNBA record by finishing with double-digit assists for the 65th time in her career.

Allie Quigley (16 points) and Kahleah Copper (11) also scored in double figures for Chicago, which shot 43.6 percent compared to 44.3 percent forWashington.

The Sky overcame a woeful 3-for-13 effort from beyond the arc in the first 20minutes to trail by just 46-44 at the break.