WNBA: Mercury rise to occasion without Taurasi

Cappie Pondexter scored 23 points and the Phoenix Mercury rallied from a 17-point deficit without leading scorer Diana Taurasi for nearly 26 minutes in beating the Sacramento Monarchs 76-75 Tuesday night in Phoenix.

Taurasi, the WNBA’s leading scorer a year ago, was ejected with 4:55 left in the first half after picking up a flagrant foul and two technical fouls within 67 seconds. It was the first time she has been ejected in her four-year WNBA career.

Fever 89, Lynx 75: At Minneapolis, Tamika Catchings scored 21 points and Indiana pulled away from Minnesota in the second half for a victory – its third consecutive 3-0 start to a season.

Seimone Augustus scored 23 points to lead the Lynx.

Silver Stars 82, Comets 71: At Houston, Becky Hammon scored 26 points, leading San Antonio to a win over the Comets.

The Silver Stars recovered from a 13-point first quarter deficit by outscoring Houston 29-9 the rest of the first half.