Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Brittney Griner blocked 11 shots to set a single-game WNBA record and added 21 points to lead the Phoenix Mercury to an 80-77 victory over the Tulsa Shock on Sunday.
Lisa Leslie (2004) and Margo Dydek (2001) held the previous record of 10.
The game came down to the final possession. Skylar Diggins drew a double team on an inbounds play and launched a contested shot that bounced off the rim and to Candice Dupree. Diana Taurasi cleared the ball into the frontcourt to end the game.
Penny Taylor went 10 for 10 on free throws to finish with 17 points for the Western Conference-leading Mercury (10-3), who had all five starters score in double figures in their seventh win in nine games. Taurasi and DeWanna Bonner chipped in 14 and Dupree had 11.
Diggins, Odyssey Sims and Glory Johnson scored 16 points apiece for Tulsa (6-9).
DREAM 76, FEVER 68
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Angel McCoughtry scored 12 of her 20 points in the second half and Atlanta overcame some sloppy play late to beat Indiana.
A series of late turnovers cost Atlanta (11-4) the lead and allowed Indiana (6-9) to go ahead 68-65 with 3:53 to play. But the Dream regrouped and McCoughtry's 3-pointer with 2:04 to play gave Atlanta the lead for good at 70-68.
Celine Dumerc blocked Shavonte Zellous' 3-point attempt with 42.8 seconds left and sealed the victory with a layup and two free throws.
Zellous scored 18 points to continue her hot stretch. She had 33 points against Tulsa on Wednesday and 18 on Friday against Phoenix, both narrow losses.
LIBERTY 67, SUN 55
NEW YORK (AP) — Tina Charles and Cappie Pondexter scored 14 points apiece to help New York hold off Connecticut.
Trailing 63-52 early in the fourth quarter, the Sun rallied behind Alex Bentley and Chiney Ogwumike. Bentley scored seven points and Ogwumike added four during a 13-3 run that made it 66-65 with 2:21 left. Connecticut had three chances to take the lead after Ogwumike missed a free throw that would have tied it, but couldn't convert.
New York (5-11) couldn't extend the lead and the Sun had one last chance at victory after Anna Cruz missed a 3-pointer from the corner with 31 seconds left.
Katie Douglas' shot from the top of the key bounced off the front of the rim with 6 seconds left and Cruz hit one free throw for the final margin.
Ogwumike had 22 points and a career-best 17 rebounds to lead Connecticut (8-8).
STARS 73, MYSTICS 65
WASHINGTON (AP) — Becky Hammon set season-highs with 17 points and four 3-pointers, and San Antonio fended off Washington for its fourth straight road win.
Danielle Robinson added 15 for the Stars (8-8), including four in the final 2:13 after the Mystics rallied within one point. San Antonio had lost two straight, including 81-70 at home to Washington on Tuesday. Kayla McBride scored 12 and Sophia Young-Malcolm 11.
The Stars blew a 10-point third-quarter lead and trailed 58-56 in the fourth after Washington rallied with a 16-4 run, but moved ahead for good with an 8-0 spurt.
Monique Currie matched her season-high with 18 points for the Mystics (7-10). She scored six straight in the fourth to pull Washington to 66-65 with 3:19 remaining, but the Mystics never scored again, missing their last five shots from the field.
LYNX 74, STORM 69
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Janel McCarville scored a season-high 22 points and short-handed Minnesota beat Seattle.
Maya Moore added 14 points for the Lynx (12-5), who have won three of four. Devereaux Peters had 12 points and Lindsay Whalen scored 10. Seimone Augustus, Minnesota's second leading scorer at 17.2 points per game, missed the game due to bursitis in her left knee.
Sue Bird scored 21 points to lead Seattle (7-11) and Jenna O'Hea added 14.
Minnesota led by nine early in the fourth quarter before Seattle pulled within one. However, Whalen and Moore combined to make five free throws in the final 15.3 seconds to help the Lynx get the win.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
