Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus led a pivotal run early in the fourth quarter that enabled the Minnesota Lynx to stop the Phoenix Mercury's 16-game win streak with a 75-67 decision at Target Center.
Clinging to a 52-51 lead entering the final period, the Lynx outscored Phoenix by a 14-3 margin to begin the frame, then held off a late charge to hand the Mercury their first loss since June 12.
After struggling to score for much of the night, Moore buried two big 3- pointers and had eight points during the game-deciding flurry, with Augustus accounting for the other six.
Moore ended with 20 points and nine rebounds and Augustus totaled 19 points in Minnesota's eighth straight victory. Rebekkah Brunson contributed a double- double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Phoenix managed to cut its 12-point deficit down to three via a 9-0 surge capped by DeWanna Bonner's triple with 2:38 remaining. It was a four-point game with a minute to go, but Moore sank a clutch jumper to put the Lynx up 73-67 and the Mercury didn't hit a shot the rest of the way.
The Mercury were ineffective offensively for the majority of the contest in falling two games short of tying Los Angeles' WNBA record for consecutive wins set in 2001. Phoenix finished with a 36.8 percent field goal percentage and was a poor 3-of-17 from 3-point range.
Diana Taurasi was particularly off-target, going 0-of-7 from beyond the arc and 5-of-21 overall while committing four turnovers.
Britney Griner paced the Mercury with 18 points and Penny Taylor had 16, with Candice Dupree amassing 10 points and 13 boards in defeat.
Phoenix started out especially cold, making just 5-of-18 shots while falling behind 21-10 after one quarter. The Mercury trailed by as many as 13 in the first half before putting together a 16-4 sequence to pull within 31-30 late in the second quarter.
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