PHOENIX, June 2 (Ticker) -- Sue Bird took flight in the second half.

Bird scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half as the Seattle Storm posted a 78-67 victory over the Phoenix Mercury.

Matching up against former Connecticut teammate Diana Taurasi, Bird struggled in the opening half, committing four turnovers and taking just two shots.

On-Demand Video from Storm-Mercury: Play

However, Bird flashed her First-Team All-WNBA form after intermission. She made 4-of-8 shots and had just one turnover in the final 20 minutes, helping the defending champion Storm to their third straight win.

Bird and Janell Burse each scored four points in a 16-5 run in the second half that turned a close game into a 61-46 lead for the Storm with 9:16 remaining.

Burse scored 21 points, Betty Lennox 14 and Lauren Jackson grabbed 14 rebounds for Seattle.

Taurasi scored 27 points to lead the Mercury, who have lost five of their first six games.