PHOENIX (AP) — Cappie Pondexter scored 31 points to lead the New York Liberty to an 89-77 victory over Phoenix on Thursday night, handing the Mercury their ninth straight loss.
Nicole Powell and Leilani Mitchell scored 13 points each, Plenette Pierson had 12 points and Kara Braxton added 12 points and nine rebounds to help the Liberty (9-13) win for the third time in four games since the league’s month-long Olympic break.
Pondexter shot 9 for 15 from the field — 5 for 9 on 3pointers — and was 8 for 8 from the free-throw line. New York moved into sole possession of fourth place in the Eastern Conference, one-half game ahead of Chicago and two games behind third-place Atlanta.
DeWanna Bonner scored 34 points for Phoenix (4-18), which continued to play without several of its injured regulars.
