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The Phoenix Mercury erupted for a 36-point third quarter Saturday, turning a four-point halftime deficit into a 87-65 win over Indiana.
The Mercury (17-10) won their eighth consecutive game, equaling a 2018 streak, their second longest ever. They won a team record 16 straight in 2014.
Down 44-40 at halftime, the Mercury went 7-of-8 from 3-point in the third quarter at Indiana Farmers Coliseum after making shooting 1-of-11 from long range in the first half.
Sophie Cunningham hit consecutive 3-pointers, the latter off her steal, to close the third quarter with the Mercury, on an 18-0 run, leading 76-53.
In the fourth, Mercury guard Bria Hartley returned for the first time since suffering a torn ACL in her right knee on Aug. 28, 2020. She made her first shot, a 3-pointer.
Brittney Griner led the Mercury with 22 points including hitting a 3-pointer in the third quarter. Skylar Diggins-Smith and Kia Nurse added 14 apiece. Diana Taurasi had seven assists.
For Indiana (6-20), Kelsey Mitchell and Tiffany Mitchell scored 18 and 17.
The Mercury improved to 2-0 against the Fever, winning more comfortably than Aug. 17 (84-80) when Diggins-Smith missed almost the entire game with an ankle injury.
Indiana leads throughout second quarter
Indiana went ahead late in the first quarter and led all of the second, by as many as eight points, for a 44-40 halftime edge.
Griner was on the bench with two fouls when the Fever used an 8-0 run to lead 24-17 at 8:31 of the second.
Indiana led 44-36 before the Mercury closed the second with four straight free throws.
Kelsey Mitchell had 10 first-quarter points and 14 in the first half and Tiffany Mitchell nine for the Fever.
Griner was 6-of-11 shooting in the first half for 15 points. Indiana native Diggins-Smith added nine. The Mercury were just 1-of-11 from 3-point in the first half, and Taurasi scored only two points.
Up next
The Mercury and Fever play for a third and final time at 4 p.m. Monday again in Indianapolis.
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8053. Follow him on Twitter @jeffmetcalfe.
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