WASHINGTON, June 3 (Ticker) -- Chasity Melvin had 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Washington Mystics snapped a three-game losing streak with a 74-71 victory over the Minnesota Lynx.

Delisha Milton-Jones scored 16 points for the Mystics (2-3), who also got 14 points from Alana Beard in her season debut. Beard, the Mystics' leading returning scorer, missed Washington's first four games with a sprained right ankle. Milton-Jones also sat out the Mystics' last game with a right knee strain.

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Rookie Temeka Johnson added 12 points and 10 assists for the Mystics, who took control of the game with a 9-0 run midway through the second half. Reserve guard Laurie Koehn started the spurt with a 3-pointer and Milton-Jones added two of her own that gave Washington a 53-48 lead with 9:45 remaining.

Svetlana Abrosimova's free throw pulled the Lynx (1-3) within 60-58 with 5:34 left, but Minnesota got no closer.

After a basket and free throw by Melvin, Charlotte Smith-Taylor made a 3-pointer that gave the Mystics a 66-58 lead with 4:26 left. Washington sank 6-of-12 from the arc.

Katie Smith scored 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting and Abrosimova and Nicole Ohlde each added 11 for Minnesota. Ohlde also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots.

The Lynx took a 34-27 lead with a 7-0 run capped by Tamika Williams' layup late in the first half. The Mystics closed to 36-33 at halftime.