WNBA ROUNDUP Thursday's games

Comets 98, Mercury 95
HOUSTON -- Dawn Staley scored a season-high 21 points and Houston overcame Diana Taurasi's 41 points to beat Phoenix. Sheryl Swoopes added 19 and Tari Phillips came off the bench and scored a season-high 15 points as the Comets (15-12) won the season's first meeting with Phoenix (11-14). Taurasi tied the highest scoring game in the WNBA this season and Cappie Pondexter added 29 for the Mercury, who lost their second straight game after winning three of four overall. Lisa Leslie of Los Angeles scored 41 against San Antonio on June 26. Taurasi became the first player to score more than 32 points against Houston in the 10-year history of the franchise. She was 14-for-28 from the field with five 3-pointers.
Mystics 92, Sky 74
WASHINGTON -- Alana Beard scored 26 points to help Washington snap a two-game losing streak. Chasity Melvin had 16 points and eight rebounds for Washington (13-13), who shot 58.3 percent from the field. DeLisha Milton-Jones added 13 points, Crystal Robinson and Nikki Teasley had 11 apiece and Coco Miller had 10 points and seven assists. Former Mystics guard Stacey Dales scored 18 points for the Sky (3-22), who have lost eight straight and 12 in a row on the road.
Sting 81, Lynx 68
MINNEAPOLIS -- Tangela Smith scored 21 points and Sheri Sam added 17 points for Charlotte (8-18), coming off a home loss to Minnesota on Tuesday night. Seimone Augustus led the Lynx (9-16) with 19 points and Vanessa Hayden added 17 points and nine rebounds.
Associated Press
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