PHOENIX, May 31 (Ticker) -- The San Antonio Silver Stars had just enough left to hold off a run from the Phoenix Mercury.

Kendra Wecker scored 18 points and Vickie Johnson had nine of her 12 in the fourth quarter as the Silver Stars kept the Mercury winless with an 82-76 victory.

NBA TV highlights from Silver Stars-Mercury: Play

Sophia Young scored 13 points and Katie Feenstra and Shannon Johnson added 10 apiece for the Silver Stars, who nearly blew an 18-point lead but held on to end a seven-game slide against the Mercury dating to June 26, 2004.

Featuring an up-tempo attack, the Mercury (0-3) allowed a season low in points but still could not give new coach Paul Westhead his first win.

Phoenix trailed, 50-32, late in the first half before storming back in the third quarter. A 3-pointer by Diana Taurasi cut the deficit to 62-61 with 1:28 remaining, but Chantelle Anderson answered with a three-point play for San Antonio.

The Mercury closed to 72-70 midway through the final period but had three straight empty possessions before Wecker sank a 3-pointer with four minutes to go. Vickie Johnson added a jumper for a 77-70 lead at the 3:24 mark.

San Antonio ended a two-game slide as it shot 45 percent (31-of-69) from the field, including 6-of-14 from the arc.

Taurasi scored 28 points and Cappie Pondexter added 26 and 10 rebounds for Phoenix, which shot 40.5 percent (32-of-79).