PHOENIX(AP) Cappie Pondexter scored 26 points, and Diana Taurasi had 21 points and five assists in the Phoenix Mercury's 91-84 victory over the New York Liberty on Wednesday night.

Tangela Smith had 18 points, and rookie DeWanna Bonner added 13 points and five rebounds for the Mercury, 2-0 for the first time since 2000.

Essence Carson led New York (0-2) with 18 points, Janel McCarville had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Ashley Battle and Loree Moore each scored 13 points.

Phoenix started the final period with a 9-2 spurt, taking advantage of poor New York shooting, to take a 78-70 lead with 4:52 left. The Liberty missed nine of their first 10 shots in the fourth and never got closer than five points the rest of the way.

New York made only six of 18 shots from the field in the final quarter.