San Antonio, TX (My Sportsbook) - Sophia Young poured in a game-best 24 points and Becky Hammon's late free throws were the difference, as the San Antonio Silver Stars edged the top-seeded Phoenix Mercury, 92-91, in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals at AT&T Center. Hammon finished with 13 points and four assists for the fourth-seeded Silver Stars, who will try to finish off the best-of-three series Saturday in Phoenix. Edwige Lawson-Wade added 16 points and a late clutch three-pointer, while Shanna Crossley gave 11 points off the bench. Penny Taylor totaled 18 points off the bench for the Mercury, who got 15 points off the bench from DeWanna Bonner. Cappie Pondexter and Diana Taurasi notched 15 points apiece in the setback. Temeka Johnson finished with 11 points. With the Silver Stars leading by a point with under a minute left, Lawson-Wade nailed a three-pointer to make it 90-86 with 50.1 ticks showing on the clock. Taurasi's pass down the other end was stolen by Hammon and brought upcourt. After the Mercury inexplicably didn't foul, Lawson-Wade missed a three. That led to Pondexter's layup, which closed it to 90-88 with 2.9 seconds left. Hammon hit a pair of free throws on San Antonio's next touch, and Taylor's three-ball cut the deficit to one point, but coming with under half a second to go, it was too little too late.
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