Mercury erupt for 30 points in 4th to claim win over Valkyries

Kahleah Copper poured in a game-high 25 points, four teammates also scored in double figures and the Phoenix Mercury's depth wore down the short-handed Golden State Valkyries in the fourth quarter en route to a 98-91 triumph Tuesday night in San Francisco.

Satou Sabally chipped in with 17 points, Natasha Mack 14, Alyssa Thomas 13 and DeWanna Bonner 12 for the Mercury, who won their second straight to start a three-game trip.

Riding outstanding 3-point shooting, the Valkyries led by as many as 12 and were still up 73-68 entering the fourth period before the Mercury dominated the final 10 minutes.

Bonner and Sabally each drilled a 3-pointer among five points apiece as Phoenix opened the final quarter with a 10-4 burst that gave the visitors a 78-77 lead.

The Mercury then dominated the weary Valkyries at both ends of the court, pulling away with a 30-point period while limiting Golden State into 1-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc.

The hosts had been 9-for-18 on 3-pointers while retaining the upper hand throughout the first half. Veronica Burton had 18 of her team-high 24 points and seven of her season-high 14 assists over the first 20 minutes.

Copper shot 9-for-20 overall and 5-for-9 from deep as the Mercury hit 49.3 percent of their field goal attempts and 11 of 31 (35.5 percent) from beyond the arc.

Mack complemented her 14 points with seven rebounds, three on the offensive end, while Thomas also had a game-high nine rebounds to go with a team-high eight assists in the well-rounded Phoenix attack.

Playing without backcourt mate Tiffany Hayes, one of five Valkyries regulars out of action, Burton's double-double was her third of the season.

Carla Leite added 15 points and Kate Martin, who shot 4-for-16 on 3-pointers, had 14 for the Valkyries, who lost their second straight after a four-game winning streak. Janelle Salaun and Laeticia Amihere also reached double figures in scoring with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

After scoring a season-high-tying 59 points in the first half, Golden State shot just 3-for-15 on 3-pointers in the second half and added just 32 points to its total. The Valkyries shot 41.6 percent overall.

--Field Level Media