UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) -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.
``I don't think we've played well here,'' said Taurasi, who also had five assists. ``It feels like we always get blown out.''
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.
Phoenix led by as many as 11 in the third period before the Sun used a 10-0 run to cut the lead to 57-56. Taurasi scored two baskets and assisted on a third in the final two minutes of the period to push the lead back to 63-57.
The Sun shot 35 percent from the field and made just six of 28 3-point attempts.
``Phoenix played well offensively when they needed to,'' Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said. ``They made big shots. For us, when you shoot 35 percent, you're not going to win very many games.''
Taurasi hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points in the first half, helping the Mercury take a 40-36 lead. The Mercury made five of their first eight 3-point attempts as a team, and led by as many as 11 in the half.
Smith scored eight points in the half, but sat the last four minutes of the second quarter with three fouls, as Connecticut shot 33 percent before the break and missed 14 of 18 3-point shots.
