PHOENIX, June 6 (Ticker) -- Diana Taurasi and rookie Cappie Pondexter score 30 points apiece as the Phoenix Mercury cruised to their first win of the season, a 90-76 victory over the defending champion Sacramento Monarchs.

Kamila Vodichkova added 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Mercury (1-4), who snapped a four-game losing streak to start the season.

Phoenix has implemented an uptempo style this season, but the new system proved to be very faulty. The Mercury registered a lot of points, but failed to limit their previous four opponents, who all shot better than 45 percent.

Before Tuesday, Phoenix shot a lower percentage than each of the teams its faced and allowed an average of 94.5 points per contest. The Mercury shot 53 percent (34-of-64) and held the Monarchs to 40 percent (28-of-70).

The hosts put together a 17-5 run to start the second quarter for a 37-23 advantage with 4:49 to go before the half. They all but sealed things in the third with a 14-5 burst for a commanding 63-41 lead. Pondexter, who made 13-of-23 shots, had eight points during the surge.

Taurasi made 10-of-18 shots and went 8-of-10 at the free-throw line.

Yolanda Griffith scored 21 points and Nicole Powell added 18 for Sacramento, which has lost back-to-back games and was without Head coach John Whisenant due to an illness in his family.