The Lynx made plenty of mistakes late in the fourth quarter and overtime Tuesday night: not inbounding the ball in five seconds for a turnover, fouling players shooting three-pointers, missing key free throws, etc.

But several Minnesota players took turns carrying the team and that sustained effort was enough. The Lynx edged Washington 96-94 in overtime at Target Center before an announced crowd of 7,171.

Rookie guard Renee Montgomery, who usually provides a spark for the Lynx off the bench, was a flamethrower.

She scored a season-high 21 points, including all of her team's points in a 10-2 Lynx run late in the fourth quarter. It began with the Mystics ahead by six, and ended with a three-point play the old-fashioned way which put the Lynx ahead 78-76.

Montgomery scored most of her points on a play the coaches put in this week. It starts with Candice Wiggins setting a screen on the right side and Montgomery driving to the basket.

"[Coach Jen Gillom] just decided to call it," Montgomery said. "It just worked, so they said keep running it until they stop it. I didn't real catch fire. I was just shooting layups."

After each one, an appreciative teammate or two came over to help Montgomery off the floor. She was being knocked down each time. Three times in the game, she made a layup and a free throw.

"They were trying to make sure I wasn't making the layups," Montgomery said, "but they were grabbing my left arm and I was shooting with the right.

"I am going to call Tina the masseuse and get in the cold tub. But I will feel good tomorrow knowing that we won."

The victory enables the Lynx (8-4) to move into a first-place tie with Phoenix in the Western Conference.

Also key for the Lynx was the play of center Nicky Anosike, who had a career-high 24 points (15 in the first half) and forward Charde Houston added 19 (11 in the third quarter).

Point guard Lindsey Harding, who the Lynx traded to Washington in late January, scored 27 points for the Mystics (5-5).

Montgomery's last basket gave the Lynx a 91-87 lead in the extra period. Roneeka Hodges gave Minnesota a 93-90 lead by making two free throws with 10.8 seconds left.

But it wasn't over quite yet. Mystics rookie Marissa Coleman was fouled on a three-pointer two seconds later. She made the first two to cut the Lynx lead to 93-92, was short on the third.

Game over? Nope.

Houston's two free throws with 5.8 second made it 95-92 Lynx, but Harding was fouled with 1.1 seconds left on a three.

Harding also made her first two free throws to make it 95-94, but her third attempt was in and out. Wiggins made a free throw with under a second left for the final margin.

Note Guard Seimone Augustus' knee surgery Tuesday went well. Dr. Joel Boyd, the Lynx team physician, repaired the torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee at TRIA Orthopaedic Center in Bloomington.