Taurasi Sets Points Mark

Diana Taurasi scored a WNBA record 47 points Thursday night to lead the Phoenix Mercury to a 111-110 triple-overtime win over the Houston Comets in the highest-scoring game in league history.

Taurasi broke Katie Smith’s record of 46 points that she set in 2001 against the Sparks while playing for Minnesota. Taurasi wasn’t around for the end as she fouled out with 2:45 left in the second overtime, just 35 seconds after she broke the mark.

Penny Taylor added 19 points for the Mercury, which needs to win its remaining two games -- and hope the Comets lose at home to Seattle on Saturday -- to qualify for the postseason.

Tina Thompson, in her first game back after missing 13 games because of a strained right calf, scored a career-high 37 points for the Comets, who could have clinched a playoff berth with a win.

Thompson also added a career-high 16 rebounds and was just two assists shy of a triple-double.

Sheryl Swoopes scored a season-high 30 points for the Comets, who have lost four of five overall.

Taurasi made a long three-pointer to give the Mercury a 102-99 lead before getting called for a charge against Thompson.

Houston, which trailed by as many as 11 points, took a 110-107 lead when Thompson made her final shot of the night with 1:38 left in the third overtime. But the Mercury answered quickly with four points before taking over on defense.

The Comets had one last chance, but Dawn Staley’s shot at the buzzer was blocked by Jennifer Derevjanik.

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Top 40

40-point games in the WNBA:

*--* Pts Player, Team Year Opp. 47 Diana Taurasi, Phoenix 2006 Hou. 46 Katie Smith, Minnesota 2001 Sparks 44 Cynthia Cooper, Houston 1997 Sac. 42 Cynthia Cooper, Houston 1999 Utah 41 Diana Taurasi, Phoenix 2006 Hou. 41 Lisa Leslie, Sparks 2006 S.A. 40 Katie Smith, Minnesota 2001 Det.

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Source: WNBA