PHOENIX, June 22 (Ticker) -- Rookie Diana Taurasi came alive in the second half to lift the Phoenix Mercury to rare victory over the Minnesota Lynx.

NBA TV highlights from Lynx-Mercury: 56k | 300k Diana Taurasi dropped in 16 of her 18 points after halftime. Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images

Taurasi scored 16 of her 18 points after halftime as the Mercury handcuffed Katie Smith and the Lynx, 69-46.

Phoenix led 29-25 at the half and Minnesota cut the deficit to 31-29 on Smith's first basket of the game with just over 18 minutes to play.

The Mercury responded with a 19-5 spurt in which Taurasi scored 11 points to gain a 50-34 advantage. With seven minutes remaining, Minnesota rallied to within 52-41, but Phoenix closed out the contest on a 17-5 run.

Smith came into the game averaging 18.3 ppg, but was held to just eight points on 3-of-10 shooting for the Lynx, who lost to the Mercury for just the second time in seven games.

Penny Taylor added 17 points for the Mercury, who improved to 2-2 on their six-game homestand.