NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Nicole Powell scored 19 points, Plenette Pierson had 15 and the New York Liberty beat the Indiana Fever 87-72 Saturday to even their best-of-three Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Cappie Pondexter scored 14, Essence Carson had 12 and Kia Vaughn 10 for New York, which bounced back from a 74-72 loss in Game 1. The Liberty shot 50 percent from the field (30 for 60) and were 20 for 21 on free throws.
Katie Douglas scored 20 points and Shavonte Zellous had 13 for the Fever. Indiana leading scorer Tamika Catchings was held to two points on 1-for-8 shooting from the field.
Game 3 is Monday night in Indianapolis.
Carson had a jumper and a layup in the opening minute of the fourth to stretch New York's lead to 66-50.
After Indiana pulled within 12 on Tammy Sutton-Brown's layup and Douglas' free throw on a technical on Pondexter, the Liberty went on a 9-0 run to take control. Pierson scored the first seven points and Carson made two free throws with 5:08 remaining to put New York ahead 76-55.
Powell's two free throws with 1:50 remaining gave the Liberty their biggest lead at 85-61.
Mercury 92, Storm 83
PHOENIX (AP) - Candice Dupree scored 29 points and the Mercury beat the Storm to even their Western Conference playoff series at a game apiece.
Diana Taurasi added 26 points as the Mercury recorded their second win in their last 12 games against the Storm dating to 2009.
Game 3 is Monday in Seattle.
Sue Bird had 17 points and four assists for the defending champion Storm, who had won their last eight postseason games.
Phoenix led by as many as 15 but Seattle ran off 10 straight points to get within five with 4:10 left. But it couldn't complete the comeback.