Mercury rise to the occasion

PHOENIX - Cappie Pondexter picked a big moment to hit a big shot.

Pondexter scored a game-high 26 points, including a driving bank shot with 21 seconds to play, and the Phoenix Mercury defeated the Detroit Shock, 77-76, last night to force a deciding fifth game in the WNBA finals.

The finale is Sunday in Detroit.

Plenette Pierson scored 23 points in a reserve role for Detroit.

Diana Taurasi added 20 points for the Mercury, who have not lost consecutive games since the two games before the All-Star break.

Detroit led, 74-73, when Pierson turned the ball over with 51 seconds to go.

On the next possession, Pondexter hit a 5-footer from the left baseline to put the Mercury up, 75-74.

After Detroit's Deanna Nolan answered with a 16-footer, Pondexter barreled into the lane and scored to give Phoenix a 77-76 lead.

Detroit's Shannon Johnson missed a 12-footer at the buzzer to spark a wild celebration.