Mercury Shoots to League Record Against Storm

The Phoenix Mercury established a WNBA record by making 28 of 44 shots in an 85-63 victory over the Seattle Storm Thursday night before 9,439 at Phoenix.

The Mercury shot 63.6%, breaking the mark of 63.2% set by Cleveland on July 21, 1999.

Phoenix made 14 of 21 shots (66.7%) in the first half and led, 42-30, at intermission.

Lisa Harrison and Tonya Edwards each scored 15 points for the Mercury (19-10), which has won five of its last six games. Phoenix needs one victory, or a Utah loss, to clinch the final Western Conference playoff spot with three games remaining.

Seattle (5-24) has lost five of six games. Phoenix swept its three-game series against the expansion Storm.

Jennifer Gillom added 14 points and Brandy Reed had 11 for Phoenix.

Quacy Barnes led Seattle with 17 points and Robin Threatt had 11.

Cleveland 74, Utah 71--Suzie McConnell Serio made a three-point basket with 21 seconds left before 10,757 at Cleveland, clinching a playoff berth for the Rockers.

McConnell Serio tried to work the ball inside, but was on the right wing with three seconds left on the shot clock and instead launched a 22-foot shot.

Cleveland (16-12) moved within two games of first-place New York in the Eastern Conference and reached the playoffs a season after compiling the league’s worst record--7-25.

Utah (16-13) had a four-game winning streak ended.

Merlakia Jones led Cleveland with 19 points.

Washington 75, Indiana 71--Chamique Holdsclaw had 22 points and 11 rebounds before 10,804 at Indianapolis as the Mystics ended a four-game losing streak.

Murriel Page scored 13 points and Vicky Bullett 12 for Washington (12-16). The Mystics outscored Indiana, 15-4, during a 10-minute span of the second half to rally from a six-point deficit and take a 66-61 lead with 6:11 remaining.

Rita Williams scored 19 points for Indiana (7-21).

Kara Wolters had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Alicia Thompson added 11 points for the Fever.

Indiana led, 61-57, with 10:52 left, then missed seven consecutive shots and had a shot-clock violation.

Washington scored nine points during that stretch to complete its comeback.