PHOENIX (AP) - Penny Taylor scored 16 of her 18 points in the first half as the Phoenix Mercury built a big halftime lead and routed Tulsa 102-63 on Sunday in Teresa Edwards' debut as interim coach.
Edwards took over from Nolan Richardson, who resigned after the Shock's loss to Phoenix on Friday night that gave Tulsa a WNBA-worst 1-10 record on the season.
Diana Taurasi added 12 points and six assists for Phoenix (8-4), which has won four straight and eight of its last nine to move into first place in the Western Conference by percentage points. The rout was on early in this one as the Mercury made their first 11 shots - a WNBA record to start a game - and built a 32-point halftime lead.
Tiffany Jackson led the Shock (1-11) with 19 points, and rookie Elizabeth Cambage added 15 points.
Liberty 80, Sky 73
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Essence Carson and Cappie Pondexter scored 18 points each to rally the New York Liberty to a victory over the Chicago Sky.
Pondexter hit a 3-pointer to tie it at 73 with 1:15 to go and Carson hit one of her own with 31.7 seconds remaining to put New York ahead for good. Pondexter then hit four free throws to seal New York's third straight win and fifth in six games after the Liberty trailed by 17 in the second quarter.
Plenette Pierson had 13 points, Quanitra Hollingsworth added 11, Nicole Powell and Kia Vaughn 10 each for the Liberty (7-5).
Sylvia Fowles and rookie Courtney Vandersloot had 14 points each for Chicago (6-7).