espnW WNBA

PHOENIX (AP) -- Diana Taurasi hit a 3-pointer with 42.6 seconds left, then blocked a shot on the other end to help lift the Phoenix Mercury over the Houston Comets 99-94 on Tuesday.

Taurasi scored 30 points and got into the WNBA record books, reaching 3,000 career points in fewer games than any other player. Taurasi needed 151 games to reach that mark. Seattle's Lauren Jackson held the record, hitting 3,000 in 162 games.

Houston led by as much as 14 in the first half.

Tina Thompson scored 23 points and Sancho Lyttle added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Comets, who had won the last two and eight of 10.

Michelle Snow made a shot in the lane with 54 seconds remaining to give Houston a 90-89 lead but Tamecka Dixon fouled Cappie Pondexter on the next possession. Pondexter, the league's second-leading scorer, made a free throw but missed the second and Mercury forward LeCoe Willingham grabbed the rebound.

Willingham got the ball to Tangela Smith, who found Taurasi open on the perimeter for a big 3.

Snow went up for a layup on the other end but Taurasi knocked it away, got the loose ball and found Pondexter for a layup. Another Comets' turnover led to a pair of free throws by Kelly Miller with 18 seconds left to give Phoenix a 97-90 lead.

Phoenix went on an 11-2 run after halftime to grab the lead briefly. Dixon scored six points in the final 1:32 of the third quarter to give the Comets a 74-68 advantage going into the final 10 minutes.

Thompson made 9-of-20 from the field, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, but had only four points in the second half.

Dixon and Snow each added 14 points for the Comets, and Pondexter had 22 and Smith 17 for the Mercury.