Diana Taurasi reaches milestone in Mercury victory

Diana Taurasi scored 27 points and reached a career milestone, and the Phoenix Mercury knocked off the surging Washington Mystics 91-79 on Friday at Verizon Center.

Taurasi hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter for her 7,000 career point. She is the third player in WNBA history to score 7,000 points and the fastest ever to do it in only 12 seasons.

Taurasi added five rebounds and five assists to go along with her game-high in points, and Brittaney Griner had 22 points, five rebounds and three blocks, helping the Mercury (5-9) snap a three-game slide.

Phoenix was in command at halftime, leading 55-40. But the Mystics opened the third quarter with a 16-7 run, capped by a Tayler Hill jumper that cut the deficit to six.

Phoenix led 70-65 heading into the fourth quarter, but quickly regained a double-digit lead and cruised to its first road win of the season.

Hill finished with 18 points, and Natasha Cloud also added 18 points for the Mystics (7-8), who had their three-game winning streak end.

Emma Meesseman and Stefane Dolson each finished with 10 points for Washington.