Mercury’s Griner nets her 2nd double-double in row

SAN ANTONIO - Brittney Griner had 20 points and 13 rebounds for her second straight double-double, Diana Taurasi added 17 points and the Mercury beat the San Antonio Stars 78-72 on Friday night.

Phoenix controlled the first half and led 44-34 at the break behind Griner’s 13 points. San Antonio went on a 10-2 run at the start of the third quarter to pull to 4644 but the Stars went scoreless for the next two-plus minutes.

Leilani Mitchell sank an open 3-pointer from the corner with 51 seconds left. Mercury 78, Stars 72

PHOENIX (78) Griner 7-12 6-7 20, Little 2-8 1-2 5, Robinson 3-10 6-8 12, Talbot 1-6 2-2 4, Taurasi 3-14 9-10 17, Cannon 0-1 0-0 0, George 2-3 1-1 6, Mitchell 4-6 3-4 14, Prince 0-1 0-0 0, Turner 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-63 28-34 78.

SAN ANTONIO (72) Colson 1-3 0-0 2, Harrison 5-9 6-10 16, Holmes 2-10 0-0 5, Montgomery 3-7 0-0 7, de Souza 2-10 0-0 4, Alexander 3-4 2-2 8, Coffey 1-5 3-4 5, Currie 3-10 2-2 8, Hamby 1-4 1-2 3, McBride 5-9 4-6 14. Totals 26-71 18-26 72. Phoenix 25 19 22 12 — 78 San Antonio 13 21 21 17 — 72 3-Point Goals—Phoenix 6-16 (Mitchell 3-3, Taurasi 2-5, George 1-1, Turner 0-1, Little 0-1, Prince 0-1, Talbot 0-4), San Antonio 2-11 (Holmes 1-4, Montgomery 1-4, Currie 0-1, McBride 0-1, Coffey 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Phoenix 37 (Griner 13), San Antonio 41 (Montgomery 12). Assists—Phoenix 15 (Robinson 5), San Antonio 18 (Currie 4). Total Fouls—Phoenix 21, San Antonio 29. Technicals—Taurasi, San Antonio defensive three second, San Antonio team. A—6,400 (18,418).