PHOENIX, Aug. 3 (Ticker) -- Maria Stepanova scored 12 of her season-high 18 points in the second half as the Phoenix Mercury erased a nine-point halftime deficit en route to a 70-64 victory over the Minnesota Lynx.

Penny Taylor scored 15 points and Kamila Vodichkova added 14 and eight rebounds for the Mercury (11-13), who moved one-half game ahead of the Lynx (11-14) for fifth place in the Western Conference.

Trailing 38-29 at halftime, Phoenix cut the deficit to 50-48 with 10 minutes to go before going on a 12-3 run to pull away.

Vodichkova scored six points during the outburst and Niele Ivey's layup capped the run as the Mercury took a 60-53 lead with 4:31 left.

Taylor added seven rebounds and four assists and All-Star Diana Taurasi chipped in with six boards to offset a 3-of-13 shooting night and 12 points.

Mercury guard Anna DeForge suffered a sprain to her right ankle early in the second half and left the game with 16:01 to go.

Svetlana Abrosimova scored 19 points for the Lynx, who have dropped five in a row.