Taurasi's stellar night helps Mercury top Mystics

Jun 25, 2008 - 5:06 AM By PA SportsTicker

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Diana Taurasi scored 31 points and Cappie Pondexter added 28 as the defending champion Phoenix Mercury notched a 98-90 victory over the Washington Mystics Tuesday.

Taurasi, who added eight rebounds and six assists, was nearly flawless as she shot 11-of-15 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the arc. Pondexter finished 10-of-18 from the floor for the Mercury (5-7), who have won three of four.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin matched Taurasi with 31 points, but did not receive as much help as the Mystics had their two-game winning streak snapped. Monique Currie chipped in 19 points for Washington (5-8), which was outscored, 33-22, in the the decisive third quarter.

Phoenix led, 73-61, after three periods and Taurasi scored 10 points in the final quarter while Pondexter hit a jumper and four free throws in the final 40 seconds to hold off a late rally.

In other games Tuesday:

INDIANA 78, SACRAMENT0 73: At Indianapolis, Ebony Hoffman scored 23 points and added 13 rebounds, leading the Fever past the Monarchs.

Katie Douglas scored 20 points for Indiana (7-6), which rallied from a 18-point deficit and snapped a two-game losing streak.

Ticha Penicheiro scored 15 points for Sacramento (6-7), which has lost three of four.

CONNECTICUT 85, DETROIT 68: At Uncasville, Connecticut, Asjha Jones scored 20 points and rookie Amber Holt added a season-high 19 points as the Sun routed the Shock.

Rookie Kerri Gardin chipped in a season-high 14 for the Sun (11-3), who outrebounded the Shock, 42-32.

Deanna Nolan scored 17 points for Detroit (10-4).

MINNESOTA 91, NEW YORK 61: In Minneapolis, Seimone Augustus scored 21 points and had nine assists as the Lynx snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over the Liberty.

Candice Wiggins added 15 points for the Lynx (7-6), who beat the Liberty for the first time in eight tries.

Shameka Christon scored 20 for the Liberty (6-6) before fouling out.

HOUSTON 82, SAN ANTONIO 81 (OT): In San Antonio, Tina Thompson scored 16 points and hit a jumper with one second remaining in overtime to lift the Comets past the Silver Stars.

Michelle Snow scored 17 points for Houston (5-8), which has won two straight.

Becky Hammon poured in 25 points for San Antonio.

LOS ANGELES 76, SEATTLE 62: At Los Angeles, Candace Parker scored 18 points to lead the Sparks over the Storm.

Marie Ferdinand-Harris chipped in 16 points for Los Angeles (10-3), which has won two straight and three of four.

Sue Bird scored 11 points for Seattle (8-7), which shot just 34 percent (16-for-47) from the floor.