Hammon, Silver Stars tie for first place in Western Conference

Sep 8, 2008 - 3:53 AM By PA SportsTicker

UNCASVILLE, Connecticut (Ticker) -- Becky Hammon scored 24 points as the San Antonio Silver Stars moved into a tie for the top spot in the Western Conference with an 85-73 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Connecticut Sun on Sunday afternoon.

Sophia Young scored 22 points for the Silver Stars (21-10), who share top billing in the West with the Seattle Storm, who set a franchise record for wins in a season Saturday night with a 96-88 triumph over the Minnesota Lynx.

Hammon shot 8-of-13 from the field, including 2-of-4 from the arc, and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line for San Antonio, which will aim to pull ahead in the West with three games left on its schedule.

Asjha Jones scored 22 points on 10-of-18 shooting for the Sun (20-10), who are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Detroit Shock (19-12) for first place in the East.

In other games Sunday:

NEW YORK 69, CHICAGO 61: At New York, Janel McCarville scored 16 points as the Liberty outscored the Sky, 25-15, in the fourth quarter en route to an important victory.

The Liberty (18-12) pulled within one-half game of the Shock for second place in the Eastern Conference.

Sylvia Fowles collected 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Sky.

SACRAMENTO 78, MINNESOTA 71: At Sacramento, California, Nicole Powell had 22 points and seven rebounds to power the Monarchs to a victory over the Lynx.

Kara Lawson scored 17 points and Crystal Kelly added 10 off the bench for Sacramento (17-14), which won its seventh consecutive home game.

Charde Houston had 19 points and Seimone Augustus added 14 for Minnesota (14-17), which dropped its fourth straight contest.

PHOENIX 99, HOUSTON 74: At Phoenix, Diana Taurasi had a game-high 33 points and Le'Coe Willingham added 16 points off the bench as the defending WNBA champion Mercury used a decisive 22-9 run in the fourth quarter to cruise past the Comets.

Cappie Pondexter and Kelly Miller added 11 points apiece for the Phoenix (15-16), which won its third consecutive game.

Mistie Williams scored a career-high 17 points off the bench to lead Houston (14-17), which dropped its fifth straight contest.