Jackson scores 15 as Storm quiets Taurasi

Lauren Jackson finished with 15 points after going scoreless in the first half, helping the Seattle Storm top the Phoenix Mercury 72-45 Thursday night at Seattle.

Seattle’s performance after the break helped it snap a two-game losing streak and ended Phoenix’s three-game winning streak. The Storm (3-2) outscored the Mercury 50-22 in the second half.

Diana Taurasi, the first overall pick of the 2004 draft, didn’t score for the first 13 minutes of the game and finished with six points on 3-of-10 shooting for the Mercury (3-2). She entered the game averaging 20.8 points a game.

Phoenix’s 45 points were 21 less than its previous low for the season.

The Mercury led 23-22 at the break. The teams combined for 24 turnovers in the first half.

Monarchs 68, Sparks 51: At Sacramento, Calif., Yolanda Griffith scored 20 points and had seven rebounds to lead Sacramento Monarchs to a win over Los Angeles.

Tangela Smith added 13 points and nine rebounds, including her 1,000th career board, for the Monarchs.

Sun 71, Sting 62: At Uncasville, Conn., Nykesha Sales scored 20 points and Lindsay Whalen added a career-high 11 to lead Connecticut to a victory over Charlotte. Whalen, a rookie guard, also four steals and finished with five assists.

Lynx 55, Silver Stars 47: At Minneapolis, Katie Smith scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half and Minnesota pulled away for victory over San Antonio.

Liberty 71, Comets 62: At Houston, Elena Baranova and Becky Hammon each scored 13 points to help New York beat Houston for its fifth straight win.