Silver Stars Fall to Mercury

PHOENIX (AP) -- Diana Taurasi scored 29 points and Cappie Pondexter added 19 to lead the Phoenix Mercury to a 95-83 win over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Thursday night.

The Silver Stars played the final three quarter without their coach Dan Hughes, who was ejected from the game with 48.3 seconds left in the first quarter after arguing with officials and getting two consecutive technical fouls.

The Mercury (17-7) used a 17-4 run in the third quarter to open up a 72-56 lead with 2:22 left in winning their fifth game in the last seven. San Antonio got within 82-77 with 4:40 remaining in the game, but Phoenix scored the next five points to secure the win.

Phoenix held WNBA-leading scorer Becky Hammon to seven points on 2-of-9 shooting. She came into the game averaging 20.7 points and had at least 20 points in six of her last seven games. Her only basket in the first three quarters was a last-second leaner at the end of the first half.

Sophia Young scored 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Silver Stars, who have lost three of their last four. Ann Wauters added 12 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio (10-13).