Final
Taylor leads Mercury to third straight win
Aug 12, 2007 - 4:26 AM By Al Bravo PA Sportsticker Contributing WriterPHOENIX (Ticker) - Penny Taylor scored 28 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the Phoenix Mercury continued their march to the postseason Saturday, winning their third straight game with a 100-83 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks.
Taylor, who made 6-of-9 from the field and all 13 of her free throws, is averaging 21.8 points over the last 20 games.
Cappie Pondexter added 21 points and five assists for the first-place Mercury, who have won nine of their last 10.
Phoenix (21-11) leads the Western Conference by a game over the San Antonio Silver Stars with just a pair of games remaining next weekend against the Sacramento Monarchs, who are in third place.
Tangela Smith had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Mercury, who made their first 27 free throws to make up for 40 percent shooting from the field.
Rookie Sidney Spencer scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Los Angeles (9-21), which has lost five straight and eight of nine. The Sparks got a big contribution off the bench from Marta Fernandez, who had 14 points.
Phoenix led by 13 in the third quarter until Los Angeles ran off 10 straight points - the last eight by Spencer - to get within 57-54 with 5:23 left.
However, Taylor hit a 3-pointer and Pondexter made four straight free throws and the Sparks never got closer than eight the rest of the way.
The teams had split their previous meetings this season, winning on each other's home court. It is only the second time in the 11-year history of the league that Phoenix has won a season series against Los Angeles.
- WNBA
LOS ANGELES 83
PHOENIX 100 FINAL
Aug 12 12:04 AM - WNBA
LOS ANGELES 63
PHOENIX 73 END, 3RD QTR
Aug 11 11:27 PM - WNBA
LOS ANGELES 38
PHOENIX 47 HALFTIME
Aug 11 10:53 PM - WNBA
LOS ANGELES 18
PHOENIX 25 END, 1ST QTR
Aug 11 10:27 PM
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