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          Seimone Augustus, Lynx put an end to Mercury's six-game win streak

          Jul 20, 2011
          • Associated Press

          PHOENIX -- Seimone Augustus scored a season high-tying 25 points and the Minnesota Lynx pulled away for a 106-98 victory over Phoenix on Wednesday, snapping the Mercury's six-game winning streak.

          Lindsay Whalen had 16 points and Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson and Taj McWilliams-Franklin each added 14 for the Lynx, who won their third straight and fifth in six games to move a half-game ahead of the Mercury in the Western Conference.

          Diana Taurasi scored 24 points, Penny Taylor added 23 and Candice Dupree finished with 14 for Phoenix, which had not lost since June 28 at Indiana. The Mercury also had their five-game home winning streak end.

          Phoenix led 51-50 at halftime on the strength of Taylor's 14 points including 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc.

          But Augustus scored eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and McWilliams-Franklin added five as the Lynx opened the second half with a 16-6 run to take a 66-57 lead with 6:28 left in the third quarter.

          Minnesota stretched its lead to 88-73 with 8:32 remaining and the Mercury got no closer than the final margin, courtesy of DeWanna Bonner's deep 3-pointer with 8 seconds left.

          Augustus finished 11 for 15 from the floor and also added six rebounds and four assists.