Bonner sets single-season free throw record in Mercury win

By foxsports
Published

PHOENIX -- DeWanna Bonner scored 15 points, setting the WNBA's single-season free throw record with 59 straight, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Minnesota Lynx 73-66 on Friday night for their fifth straight victory.

Brittney Griner blocked Lindsay Whalen's fastbreak layup with 1:20 remaining and raced down the court for a layup to put Phoenix up 70-66. The Mercury made 3 of 4 free throws in the final 20 seconds to seal it.

Marta Xargay Casademont added a career-high 15 points, all in the second half, to give Phoenix (14-7) a spark off the bench. Griner had 13 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks, becoming the Mercury's all-time blocks leader with 274.

Bonner made her first seven free throws to break Elena Delle Donne's record set earlier this year. The Mercury All-Star's string was snapped at the 1:19 mark of the third quarter after missing two free throws.

Maya Moore had 17 points and Sylvia Fowles added 11 for Minnesota (15-6).

Moore, who had her string of 11 straight games scoring 20 points or more end on Tuesday, did not attempt a shot in the first quarter. Her 37-minute scoring drought came to an end with a layup at the 8:06 mark of the second quarter. That basket came during Minnesota's 10-0 run, spanning the first two quarters, to give Minnesota its first lead at 27-26.

Phoenix was held to 3-of-19 shooting (16 percent) in the second quarter, getting outscored 16-7, but trailed just 35-33 at halftime.

In the second half, Moore made three 3-pointers in the first 6 minutes to give Minnesota a 52-46 lead. But Xargay Casademont's back-to-back baskets highlighted Phoenix's 10-0 run, spanning the third and fourth quarters, to take a 64-56 lead. Consecutive makes by Whalen pulled Minnesota back to 66-62.

Griner set Phoenix's career blocks record in just three seasons, passing Diana Taurasi. Griner's record breaking block with 5:50 left in the third quarter led to Xargay Casademont's second consecutive 3-pointer to pull within 46-44.

The home team has won the last nine games in the series.