Pondexter, Taurasi lift Mercury to win in OT
Finals opener is highest scoring in WNBA history
PHOENIX – Cappie Pondexter missed a game-winning tip-in at the fourth-quarter buzzer then scored seven of her 23 points in overtime to help the Phoenix Mercury escape with a 120-116 victory over the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night in a wild opener of the WNBA Finals.
The Phoenix point guard scored the final five points in the highest-scoring game in WNBA history.
Penny Taylor added 23 points and newly crowned league MVP Diana Taurasi had 22 for the Mercury, in search of their second title in three years. Game 2 is Thursday night in Phoenix.
Katie Douglas tied it with a 3-pointer for Indiana with 7.1 seconds left, then scored eight in OT for a career playoff-high 30 points.
Indiana’s Tamika Catchings had just eight points before fouling out with 2:42 left in OT.
DeWanna Bonner’s two free throws put Phoenix ahead 105-102 with 14.2 seconds left in regulation. After a timeout, the Fever got the ball to the open Douglas, who sank the 3 that tied it.
The Mercury pushed downcourt, where Bonner missed a driving layup, but Pondexter went up for the uncontested tip-in. Her shot bounced off the rim to send the game into OT.
Taurasi sank a 3-pointer, made 1 of 2 free throws, then had an assist on Temeka Johnson’s 3 that put the Mercury ahead 102-98 with 21/2 minutes left. The other basket in the run was a driving bank shot by Taylor that tied it at 98.
The Fever came back. Catchings made two free throws, then rookie Briann January, who played at Arizona State and Lewis and Clark High, made a layup to tie it at 102 with 47.8 seconds left. January finished with 11 points and seven assists.
Taylor was fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws with 27.9 seconds remaining to give Phoenix a 103-102 lead.
The lead changed hands six times in OT.