Taurasi stars in WNBA debut, but Sacramento gets the victory

Diana Taurasi scored 22 points in her WNBA debut — including a 50-foot bank shot at the halftime buzzer — but Yolanda Griffith led the Sacramento Monarchs to a 72-66 victory Thursday night over the Phoenix Mercury at Phoenix.

Taurasi fouled out with 34.6 seconds left, falling a point shy of the record for a player in her first WNBA game.

Griffith had 17 points and nine rebounds as the bigger Monarchs dominated inside, outrebounding the Mercury 34-23.

Kara Lawson added 10 points, including four free throws in the final 34.6 seconds. Ticha Penicheiro and rookie Rebekkah Brunson also scored 10 apiece for the winners.

Taurasi, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft after leading Connecticut to three consecutive NCAA championships, made seven of 13 shots — three of six from 3-point range. She also had three blocked shots.

Australian Penny Taylor, the No. 1 choice in the dispersal draft of players from the defunct Cleveland Rockers, scored 21 for the Mercury on 7-for-9 shooting.

San Antonio 64, Houston 55: At Houston, Marie Ferdinand scored 20 of her 26 points to lead a second-half comeback by the Silver Stars in the opener for both teams.

Gwen Jackson added 17 points and nine rebounds, and Shannon Johnson scored 10 for San Antonio.