WASHINGTON (AP) — Diana Taurasi scored 27 points to become the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 7,000 points and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Washington Mystics 91-79 on Friday night.
Taurasi hit a long 3-pointer with 1:08 left in the third quarter to become the third WNBA player to reach the mark, trailing Tina Thompson and Tamika Catchings. Taurasi did it in 348 games, compared to Catchings' 428 and Thompson's 460.
Phoenix scored a season-high 55 points in the first half but was held to 15 in the third as Washington pulled to 70-65. Taurasi hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions midway through the fourth for a double-digit lead and Washington made just one field goal in the final 3 minutes.
Brittney Griner added 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting for Phoenix (5-9), which is ranked No. 9 in the AP power poll. Taurasi, Griner and Penny Taylor combined to score 40 of Phoenix's 55 first-half points.
Tayler Hill and Natasha Cloud scored 18 points apiece for fifth-seeded Washington (7-8).
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