WASHINGTON -- Chasity Melvin was fed up, so she did something about it.

Melvin matched her career-high with 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help keep the Washington Mystics' WNBA playoff hopes alive with an 82-69 overtime victory Tuesday night over the New York Liberty.

Washington scored the first five points in overtime on a layup by Melvin and a 3-pointer by Charlotte Smith-Taylor. The Mystics were perfect on 12 free throws in the remainder of overtime to secure the victory and end a five-game losing streak.

"I was just tired of losing," Melvin said. "Basketball is a game of runs and it was time for us to come out and get a win."

She wasn't alone in that feeling.

"The will to win is a powerful source of energy," Mystics forward DeLisha Milton-Jones said. "We knew we had to come out strong (in overtime) and we did."

The Detroit Shock, who lost to the Charlotte Sting, and the Mystics (15-17) are tied for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have two games remaining, with a showdown between the Shock and Mystics set for Saturday night in Washington.

The Mystics have the tougher road with a game Friday at Connecticut (24-7), which has the best record in the league. Detroit hosts Indiana (19-12) on Thursday.

"I know Detroit lost to Charlotte so we have our own destiny in our hands," Mystics coach Richie Adubato said. "We still have a chance. We're still alive."

Vickie Johnson scored 18 points to lead the playoff-bound Liberty (18-14), who had won five straight games. Becky Hammon added 10 points and six assists for New York. Reserve La'Keisha Frett scored a season-high 10 points in 23 minutes.

Johnson hit a 3-pointer that pulled the Liberty into a tie at 63 with 1:03 remaining in regulation. Melvin missed a turnaround jumper for Washington with 37 seconds left.

Crystal Robinson lost the handle on the ball and stepped out of bounds on the sideline with 8.2 seconds left to give the Mystics another possession.

Alana Beard, who scored nine points on 3-for-18 shooting, missed a 15-foot jumper with 3 seconds left. Hammon rebounded for New York and called a timeout with less than a second to go. But the Liberty failed to get a shot off before the horn sounded ending regulation.

"It is a shame about tonight's game because we made such a great stop to get it into overtime," Liberty coach Pat Coyle said. "Our offense was stagnant down the stretch. With the playoffs ahead it is going to be important to go back and look at the tapes and see where we went wrong."

One place was on the boards, where the Mystics out-rebounded the Liberty by 13.

"It helped us prepare on what not to do," Hammon said. "We got blocked out and gave up too many offensive rebounds. They played like their backs were against the wall and they were."

Milton-Jones had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Mystics, who got 11 points and five assists from rookie Temeka Johnson. Reserve Coco Miller sparked Washington with seven rebounds in 18 minutes.

After Vickie Johnson's 3-pointer from the corner gave the Liberty a 58-57 lead, Miller responded with an offensive rebound and basket that put the Mystics ahead. Milton-Jones made a steal on the ensuing inbounds play and scored on a layup to give Washington a 61-58 lead with 3:33 remaining.

Neither team led by more than four points in the first half. Washington was in front 35-31 at the break.

Melvin's career night came on 12-for-19 shooting.

"Once she established her position, she did whatever she wanted," Coyle said. "She was able to get the shots and looks she wanted throughout the game."