WNBA ROUNDUP Friday's games

Sun 61, Liberty 43
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Katie Douglas scored 13 points and matched her career high with five steals to lead the Connecticut Sun to a win over the New York Liberty. The win snapped the Sun's three-game losing streak and brightened their playoff hopes with just five games left in the season. It was Connecticut's first game back in the Mohegan Sun arena since the monthlong Olympic break, and it didn't take the Sun long to settle in. New York was unable to sustain any runs in the first half and never found its rhythm against the Connecticut pressure defense. Douglas helped shut down Liberty guard Becky Hammon, who was held to two points, 11 below her average. Elena Baranova led New York with nine points and nine boards. The Liberty had been the hottest team in the Eastern Conference at the August break, winning six of their last nine. That run included a 14-point blowout over Connecticut at Radio City Music Hall on July 31. Taj McWilliams-Franklin added 11 points for the Sun and rookie Lindsay Whalen finished with six assists in guiding the Sun's uptempo attack.
Mercury 70, Comets 60
HOUSTON -- Diana Taurasi scored 27 points and Penny Taylor added 17 to lead the Phoenix Mercury to a win over the Houston Comets. The Mercury (14-13) have won six of seven after losing five straight games. Fourth-place Phoenix extended its lead to 2 1/2 games over the Comets in the Western Conference. Sheryl Swoopes scored 18 points and Tina Thompson added 17 for Houston, losers of two straight after the monthlong Olympic break. The Comets (12-16) got within 62-58 with 3:30 left after trailing by as many as 19. But Taurasi hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final 2:37 to seal the win.
Fever 69, Lynx 61
MINNEAPOLIS -- Tamika Catchings had 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Indiana Fever past the Minnesota Lynx. Deanna Jackson had 10 points for Indiana (14-15), which has won two straight and moved into a tie for second place with the Connecticut Sun in the Eastern Conference. Nicole Ohlde and Kelly Schumacher each scored 13 points for the Lynx (16-12). Schumacher, despite a cut above her right eye that required stitches at halftime, finished 7-for-8 from the field and had nine rebounds. Amanda Lassiter added 11 and Tamika Williams had 10 rebounds.
Associated Press
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