SACRAMENTO, Calif, Aug. 6 (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Mercury have one road contest remaining to avoid a dubious distinction.

Ticha Penicheiro had 21 points, 10 assists and six rebounds as the Sacramento Monarchs nearly blew a double-digit advantage down the stretch before holding on to defeat Phoenix, 73-70, and extend the Mercury's WNBA-record road losing streak to 21 games.

Phoenix, which has not won away from home since July 2001, fell to 0-15 on the road this season. The Mercury must win at Portland on Sunday to avoid becoming the first team in league history to go an entire season with a road victory.

Sacramento led, 64-52, after Yolanda Griffith's jumper with 5:35 remaining. Phoenix countered with a 10-0 run that was capped by a jumper by Adrain Williams with 3:09 to play.

The Monarchs responded with a 7-0 mini-burst before the Mercury climbed within 71-70 on a 3-pointer by Jennifer Gillom with 21 seconds left. But Penicheiro calmly sank a pair of free throws with 10 seconds to go to restore a three-point advantage, and Gordana Grubin's potential tying 3-pointer missed with one second remaining.

Penicheiro responded from a 1-for-9 shooting performance in the Monarchs' 10-point loss to Los Angeles on Saturday by sinking 7-of-11 shots. Sacramento converted 52 percent (29-of-56) overall and limited Phoenix to 43 percent (26-of-60) en route to a seventh win in eight games.

Gillom scored 22 points and Williams 15 in the loss, the Mercury's 16th in 18 games after beginning the campaign 7-4.