Temeka Johnson hits shot at buzzer to lead Mercury past Monarchs 107-105

Johnson’s buzzer shot leads Mercury past Monarchs

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Temeka Johnson hit a 14-foot running shot at the buzzer to lead the Phoenix Mercury to a 107-105 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs on Saturday night.

Johnson, who scored 12 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter, received the inbounds pass and hit the winning shot as the Mercury rallied in the second half for their fourth straight victory. Cappie Pondexter scored 23 points to lead the Mercury (10-4).

Nicole Powell scored 23 points for Sacramento (3-10), which led by 15 points in the first half.

After DeWanna Bonner banked in a tough shot to put Phoenix ahead 105-103 with 8.5 seconds left, Courtney Paris tied it with 1.8 seconds remaining.

Tangela Smith scored a season-high 20 points for Phoenix before fouling out late in the game. Diana Taurasi had 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, Lecoe Willingham scored 13 points and Bonner added 12 points and eight rebounds.

Paris had a career-high 16 points for Sacramento, DeMya Walker had 15 points and eight rebounds, while both Scholanda Robinson and Rebekkah Brunson had 11 points.

The win kept Phoenix ahead of Seattle in the Western Conference standings.

Trailing by 12 at the half, the Mercury rallied behind Smith’s shooting. She made two 3-pointers and scored 15 points in the third quarter when Phoenix outscored the Monarchs 36-25 and pulled to within one, 79-78, entering the fourth.

Brunson scored eight of her 11 points in the second quarter when the Monarchs scored 12 straight points late in the period and took a 54-42 lead into the half.

Pondexter had 11 first-half points, yet shot just 2 of 9. Taurasi had eight points, but didn’t score in the second quarter after picking up her third foul.