PHOENIX — Diana Taurasi scored a career-high 35 points to lead the Phoenix Mercury to a 91-86 victory over Eastern Conference-leading Connecticut on Friday night, snapping the Sun's five-game win streak.
Taurasi, the WNBA's leading scorer, had 32 in a loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday. She came into the game averaging 24.3 points.
Katie Douglas scored 27 points, Nykesha Sales had 21 and Taj McWilliams-Franklin grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the Sun (7-2), which lost for the first time in four road games.
The Mercury (3-5), last in the Western Conference, won its third straight home game.
Cappie Pondexter scored 15 points, and Kamila Vodichkova and Jennifer Lacy added 13 apiece for the Mercury. Kristen Rasmussen had 13 rebounds.
Taurasi, battling fellow former UConn star Sales throughout the game, shot 10 for 15 from the field, including 5 for 6 on three-pointers.
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Taurasi also drew a technical foul from official Amy Bonner for arguing a call in the second quarter.
After trailing for much of the night, the Mercury took a 60-57 lead midway through the third period when Taurasi converted a four-point play after she was fouled by Douglas while shooting a three.
Taurasi hit another three to put the Mercury up 81-75 with 2 minutes to go. But Douglas answered with a trey 17 seconds later to pull Connecticut within three.
After Pondexter made two free throws for an 84-78 Mercury lead, Sales hit a fallaway three from the corner with 46 seconds left.
Taurasi, who hit 10 of 11 free throws, iced the win with four foul shots in the final 15 seconds.
mercury 91
SUN 86
