After dropping a game for the first time this season Friday against Atlanta, the Washington Mystics pulled out an 81-72 win Saturday over visiting conference rival Chicago Sky. The Mystics’ win improves their record to 4-1 and keeps them in first place in the Eastern Conference.

Alana Beard racked up 31 points, schooling former Maryland standout and WNBA rookie Kristen Toliver on defense and tying Saturday’s game at 64, with 5:57 left. She then iced the victory by tacking on the final two points of the game.

Head coach Julie Plank called Beard a “franchise player.”

“I thought Alana Beard put us on her back,” Plank said.

The Mystics were down 10 points at halftime, but Plank said a strong defensive stand at the beginning of the second half and the players’ ability to get out in transition launched the team’s comeback.

She also was pleased with her team’s improved rebounding ability in the second half, notably by Monique Currie, Crystal Langhorne, and Chasity Melvin. Outrebounded 21-8 in the first, the Mystics finished with 31 total rebounds, only three fewer than the Sky.

“We’re missing some people, and we just have to keep fighting,” Plank said.