NEW YORK (AP) Chamique Holdsclaw scored 22 points and Coco Miller added 16 as the Washington Mystics beat the New York Liberty 65-54 on Thursday night to snap a seven-game losing streak.

"They started our losing streak, and we ended it here," said Holdsclaw, who missed the July loss to New York that started the streak because of a sprained ankle. "This is how we wanted it. Everything is a test. We've been tested, and we persevered."

The Mystics (16-13) moved a game behind the first-place Liberty (17-12) in the Eastern Conference, and both teams clinched playoff spots with Orlando's loss to Sacramento on Thursday night. The Liberty and Mystics will meet again Friday night in Washington.

"Nobody wants to back into anything, but the playoffs gives you an opportunity to win," New York coach Ritchie Adubato said.

Helen Luz hit two late 3-pointers to hold off the Liberty, and Holdsclaw offset 5-of-15 shooting with eight second-half free throws.

"The Mystics are officially back from the dead," Washington coach Marianne Stanley said. "This was exactly the antidote we needed to raise our level of play."

New York's Tari Phillips scored 14 of her 22 points in the first half. Crystal Robinson added 12 points for the Liberty, including a pair of 3-pointers in the second half.

The Liberty shot 37 percent from the field, with Vickie Johnson going 3-of-11 and Tamika Whitmore 2-of-8, but still got into the playoffs.

New York's double-team of Holdsclaw limited her to one basket - a 3-pointer - in the second half, but the Liberty couldn't overcome their nine-point halftime deficit.

Phillips had a pair of layups inside and Becky Hammond hit a 3-pointer as the Liberty closed to 45-42, but Washington's Helen Luz hit a pair of open 3-pointer to make it 51-42.

"To me, the regular season doesn't even matter," Whitmore said. "The playoffs are a little more intense. If some people thought this was a playoff atmosphere, they are in for a treat."

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