Mystics 65, Sky 61 OT

When the Mystics announced they signed veteran guard Katie Smith in March, General Manager Angela Taylor constantly spoke of how they believed the 36-year-old's cool-under-pressure demeanor would help Washington win close games. Contests that the Mystics struggled with previously.

Saturday night against Chicago, Smith proved Taylor's point quite well. Smith scored all but two of her 17 points - her highest total as a Mystic - in the second half to lead Washington's rally for a 65-61 overtime win against the Sky.

After her pair free throws late in regulation cut the Mystics' deficit to two, Smith implored her teammates to remain calm. As the shot clock ticked down with 39.2 seconds remaining in overtime she made a three-pointer, her third of the game, to all but seal a victory.

Regardless of the pressure Smith sees every play as its fundamental parts. She just needs to execute them.

"It's just understanding that you've got to make plays and it's just the same play at the end of the game," Smith said. "Whether it's the last minute or first minute of the ball game it's still the same play, you still execute, read the defense and shoot the ball hopefully with confidence....You try to approach everything the same."

Smith went 6-for-11 and showed no evidence of her recent scoring trouble - she was 7-for-21 in her three previous outings combined - each time she pulled up for a basket in a critical situation.

"We count on her a lot and we move her around her a lot," Coach Julie Plank said. "Sometimes she's playing (shooting guard) sometimes (small forward) sometimes (power forward) and I thought we did a lot better when we went small ball and put Katie in at the (power forward spot) it opened up the floor a lot for us."

Said Nakia Sanford: "She just kicks it into gear. Katie Smith isn't necessarily one of those really flashy players who's out there trying to score a lot of points. She always talks to us about details, she's one of those players who is very detail oriented. So when we're out there on the court she's like: 'Hey set those screens, come off hard' and for her to hit the shots that she did is just icing."

Smith wasn't the only player who infused energy after Washington opened with its worst 20 minutes of the season. The Mystics shot 6-for-27 (22.2 percent) in the first half, scored a new low in both the half (20), the first quarter (9) and looked completely out of sorts early on.

Cue speedster Matee Ajavon. Plank's dependable spark plug recorded four steals and 10 points by game's end marking the third consecutive game in which the third-year guard from Rutgers scored in double figures.

"I know my role on this team is to be that spark and I try to do it to the best of my ability," Ajavon said. "I just have to get everybody going and let them know that it's not over no matter what we're facing."

Ajavon's presence late in games proved crucial once again as she swiped the ball from towering Sylvia Fowles and raced down the court for a layup with 15.8 seconds remaining to tie the score at 52 and force overtime. At this point, one might simply begin to expect to see Ajavon on the court in any tight scenario.

"We had some great sparks off our bench," Sanford said. "Matee just had a great game again and she's really aggressive out there and it helps us all be. The last overtime we had against Atlanta at home and we weren't as aggressive that overtime as this one. We just need to remember to go out there and be aggressive no matter what."

It certainly wasn't the prettiest of wins, what with the Mystics shooting 33.8 percent as compared to the WNBA-best 47 percent that they entered the contest with, but there were no complaints in the locker room. The victory could help set a positive tone as Washington's schedule picks up its pace, as the Mystics play four games in six days beginning with Thursday's home tilt against the Los Angeles Sparks.

"To have fought back the way that we did and be able to close the game out the way we did shows a lot of progress," Sanford added. "Hopefully we can keep it up."