SAN ANTONIO -- Diana Taurasi had all of her 18 points in the first half and the Phoenix Mercury beat the San Antonio Stars 81-65 in the regular-season finale for both teams on Sunday.
Phoenix (16-18) already had clinched a postseason berth and will be the eighth seed in the playoffs and play at Indiana in the first round.
The Mercury pulled away with a 10-1 run to end the second quarter ahead 45-33. The Stars (7-27) closed within 64-58 late in the third, but the Mercury went on a 12-0 run to lead by 18 with 6:52 left in the game.
Mercury finish off the regular season with a 81-65 win over the Stars! #MercVsStars pic.twitter.com/hxY5dHZElu
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 18, 2016
Brittney Griner scored 11 of her 15 points after halftime, Candice Dupree added 12 points and DeWanna Bonner 10.
Monique Currie led San Antonio with 19 points. Moriah Jefferson scored 16 and Haley Peters added 11.
The game marked the end of San Antonio coach Dan Hughes' career as well as center Jayne Appel-Marinelli.
Another game, another milestone for @DianaTaurasi.
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) September 18, 2016
Taurasi recorded her 900th career 3-pointer in today's victory. pic.twitter.com/pOwbp0fq8U
