TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Diana Taurasi scored 35 points and Penny Taylor added 29 to lead the defending champion Phoenix Mercury to a 110-96 victory over the Tulsa Shock on Tuesday night.
Candice DuPree had 14 points and 14 rebounds and DeWanna Bonner scored 10 points for Phoenix (2-1), which shot 45 percent from the field, including 16 for 36 on 3-pointers. Taurasi was 8 for 13 from beyond the arc and Taylor was 6 for 12. Taylor also had seven assists and six rebounds.
Amber Holt scored 20 points and Shanna Crossley and Scholanda Robinson had 13 apiece for the Shock (1-3), who shot 47 percent but were just 4 for 16 on 3s. Chante Black had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Plenette Pierson added 11 points.
Former Olympic sprinter Marion Jones finished with two rebounds and no points in 3:36.
Tulsa tied the score at 80-all on Natasha Lacy's basket with about 2½ minutes left in the third. However, it was all Phoenix from there as the Mercury outscored the Shock 30-16 the rest of the way.
Temeka Johnson's jumper started a 7-0 run that gave Phoenix an 87-80 lead after three quarters. Crossley's 3 with 8:47 left in the fourth pulled the Shock within four, but they got no closer the rest of the way.
Taurasi's final points came on a jumper with 7:24 to go that pushed Phoenix's lead to 95-85, and Taylor made consecutive 3s to stretch the advantage to 15 with 2:06 left.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.