NEW YORK, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Tamika Williams scored 13 points and Katie Smith added 10 as the Minnesota Lynx ended a 12-game road losing streak Tuesday night with a 52-49 victory over the New York Liberty.
Needing a victory to clinch a playoff spot, New York instead had its six-game home winning streak halted by a Minnesota team that had not won away from home since June 1.
Williams added seven rebounds and Smith six for the Lynx, who shot just 32 percent (15-of-47) from the field but went 18-of-19 at the line.
Trailing 32-31 midway through the second half, the Lynx used a 14-4 run to go ahead for good. Minnesota hit 10 free throws in the burst, led by Tamara Moore's six.
The Liberty inched back, pulling within 49-46 on two free throws by Tamika Whitmore with 47 seconds left. Moore sank a pair from the line, but Crystal Robinson sank a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 51-49 with six seconds left.
Smith followed with 1-of-2 from the line, accounting for her team's lone miss. Teresa Weatherspoon missed a desperation heave from midcourt as the buzzer sounded.
Tari Phillips scored 17 points, Whitmore added 12 and Vickie Johnson nine for the Liberty, who had a three-game winning streak halted.
Williams scored six points as the Lynx ended the first half with a 16-1 run to take a 24-17 lead into the locker room.
