Detroit 79, Washington 66

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 11 (AP) -- Katie Smith scored 23 points and Cheryl Ford added 14 in the Detroit Shock's 79-66 victory over the Washington Mystics on Friday night.

Smith went 7-for-9 on 3-pointers to help the Shock (14-6) take a one-game lead over Connecticut in the WNBA's Eastern Conference.

Rookie Tasha Humphrey added 12 points for the Shock, and Plenette Pierson followed with 10.

Coco Miller had 15 points in a reserve role to lead Washington. Monique Currie was the only starter to reach double figures with 13 points.

Detroit scored the game's first nine points and led by 18 early in the second quarter, but Washington got back into the game in the third.

The Mystics were as close as 46-38 midway through the period, but missed three chances to narrow the gap further. Smith then hit a 3-pointer to move Detroit's margin to 11, and the Shock pulled away.

Detroit All-Star Deanna Nolan left the game late in the third quarter due to a bruised left leg and didn't return.