Taurasi scores 35 to lead Mercury past Shock
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
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.