Sep 2, 2007, 1:49 GMT
Phoenix, AZ - Cappie Pondexter poured in 33 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out eight assists as the Phoenix Mercury defeated the San Antonio Silver Stars, 98-92, to capture the Western Conference championship.
Penny Taylor scored 23 points, Diana Taurasi had 18 and Kelly Miller contributed 15 for the Mercury, who edged San Antonio 102-100 in Game 1 on Thursday and will next face either Indiana or Detroit for the WNBA championship.
Shanna Crossley scored a team-high 20 points off the bench and Sophia Young recorded 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Silver Stars, who were in the postseason for the first time in five years. Becky Hammon finished with 14 points and eight assists before fouling out.
A Young bank shot put San Antonio up 82-81 with just over three minutes to play before Taurasi nailed a three-pointer. Vickie Johnson's layup tied the game at 84-84, but Pondexter converted a three-point play and Miller hit two from the line to give Phoenix an 89-84 advantage with 1:47 remaining.
Then, after a pair of Young free throws, Taylor converted a rare four-point play with just over a minute remaining that iced the game and clinched the first appearance in the finals for the Mercury since 1998.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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