Washington rallies for win over Mercury

Nikki Teasley hit two baskets in the final 1 minute, 24 seconds and the Washington Mystics rallied from a 17-point deficit on Sunday night to beat the Phoenix Mercury 81-78.

Down 78-77 after Phoenix’s Kelly Miller hit a 22-footer, Teasley made an 18-foot jumper to give the Mystics lead.

Then after a miss by the Mercury’s Diana Taurasi, Teasley drove for a layup with the shot clock winding down and 19 seconds left on the clock as Washington won for just the second time in the last seven games.

Chasity Melvin scored 20 points, Crystal Robinson added 15 and Nakia Sanford had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Mystics.

Cappie Pondexter scored 25 points to lead the Mercury and Taurasi had 22 points but missed 5 of 6 shots in the final period, including a 3-pointer with 1:01 left and her team trailing by one.

Comets 77, Monarchs 62: At Houston, Sheryl Swoopes and Michelle Snow each scored 14 points to lead a balanced scoring attack as Houston upended Sacramento.

Tina Thompson and Dawn Staley added 12 and 11 points, respectively, as the Comets won their ninth straight at home.

Yolanda Griffith, who made just one of her first nine shots, led the Monarchs with 14 points, while Erin Buescher added 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Sacramento fell to 0-3 against Houston this season.

The Monarchs entered Sunday having won three of their previous four games. They were playing the second of back-to-back games, having won at home against Charlotte on Saturday.