Alyssa Thomas capped a frantic end by making the second of two free throws with one second remaining, breaking a tie and giving the visiting Phoenix Mercury a 78-77 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Monday evening.
Thomas’ free throw got here after the Valkyries, trying to avenge an earlier loss at Phoenix, rallied from a four-point deficit with 15.1 seconds left behind a trey and 17-foot discipline aim by Janelle Salaun in a four-second flurry that sandwiched a DeWanna Bonner free throw.
Salaun’s tying hoop got here with 6.1 seconds remaining, permitting the Mercury, after advancing the ball with a timeout, to get the ball to Thomas rolling to the ring. She drew a foul on a point-blank try, then missed her first free throw earlier than making her second.
Bonner (game-high 22 factors, game-high 11 rebounds) and Thomas (17 factors, game-high 11 assists) each completed with double-doubles for the Mercury, who received a 3rd straight regardless of suiting up solely eight gamers resulting from three accidents.
Veronica Burton had a team-highs of 17 factors and 6 assists for the Valkyries, who misplaced for the fourth time of their final 5 video games.
The Valkyries led 69-66 with 4:32 to play earlier than Thomas got here alive late, hitting two hoops after which aiding Bonner, a latest roster addition, for a layup that gave Phoenix a 75-72 lead with 51.1 seconds left.
Kathryn Westbeld added 14 factors for the Mercury, 12 of which approaching 4-for-8 accuracy from lengthy distance. Teammates Bonner (3-for-4), Monique Akoa Makani (3-for-6) and Sami Whitcomb (2-for-5) additionally drilled a number of 3-pointers for the guests, who shot 12-for-29 (41.4 p.c) from past the arc.
Golden State was even higher from deep, making 14 of 33 (42.4 p.c). Burton had 12 of her 17 factors on 4-for-8 3-point makes an attempt, whereas Tiffany Hayes additionally made 4 — in simply 5 makes an attempt — as a part of a 15-point evening.
Salaun totaled 12 factors and Monique Billings added 10 to go along with a team-high 9 rebounds for Golden State.
–Subject Stage Media