The Phoenix Mercury picked up where they left off. Penny Taylor hit two free throws with 1.5 seconds left to lift the defending WNBA champions to a 78-77 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in the league's season opener Saturday. After Diana Taurasi made two free throws to give Phoenix a 76-75 lead with 17.8 seconds left, Noelle Quinn hit a 12-foot bank shot to put the Sparks back in front with 4.7 seconds to go. That's when Phoenix coach Corey Gaines set up an inbounds play for Taylor to drive to the basket. "Corey drew up a really good play, and I don't think they were expecting it to go to me," the veteran from Australia said. "(I) had an open layup and drew the defense, and, luckily, I got fouled and luckily the two free throws went in." http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/153561
