Diana Taurasi scored 25 points, leading the Phoenix Mercury past the Connecticut Sun 87-80 on Sunday for their fifth win in six games. Tangela Smith added 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Mercury, who took advantage of 14 offensive rebounds - 10 in the second half - to sweep the season series from Connecticut. Taurasi made her fifth 3-pointer of the game with 4:42 left to give the Mercury a 75-68 lead, after Phoenix kept the possession alive with a pair of offensive rebounds. The Sun (12-5) got as close as 80-76 with 1:44 left following a pair of free throws from Lindsay Whalen. But Cappie Pondexter's basket with 1:21 left pushed the lead to six, and the Sun never got within five again. Pondexter finished with 16 points. Asjha Jones scored 16 to lead Connecticut, while Whalen had 14 points, eight assists and eight rebounds. Jamie Carey and Sandrine Gruda added 10 points apiece. Shock 100, dream 92: At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Kara Braxton scored a career-best 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help Detroit keep Atlanta winless. Storm 64, Mystics 49: At Seattle, Sue Bird had 14 points and seven assists to lead a balanced attack for Seattle against Washington. The Mystics' 49 points were a season low.
