Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Candice Dupree logged a game-best 32 points to go with eight rebounds as Phoenix outlasted San Antonio, 106-93, in Game 1 of a best-of-three Western Conference semifinals.
Penny Taylor clocked in with 20 points, five boards and seven assists for the Mercury, who won by shooting better than 57 percent from the field and can advance with a win at San Antonio in Game 2 on Saturday.
Diana Taurasi posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists and Kara Braxton came off the bench to also score 14.
Becky Hammon scored 19 points, and both Edwige Lawson-Wade and Roneeka Hodges tallied 17 points for the Silver Stars, who hit 10-of-16 shots from long range in the setback.
Sophia Young added 16 points with nine rebounds, and Michelle Snow totaled 10 points, six rebounds and four assists in a losing cause.
The Mercury bolted out of the gate with a 19-8 burst and led 25-16 after one quarter.
Taylor hit a layup early in the second to push the Phoenix edge to 31-16, but another San Antonio surge cut its deficit to 46-39 at the break after a Jayne Appel make.
Hodges hit a trey to get the Silver Stars within 46-42 early in the third quarter, and the Mercury didn't pull away until a 10-3 run to end the period found the home team up 77-63.
The Phoenix advantage swelled to 90-69 with 6:50 to play on a DeWanna Bonner lay-in and the Mercury kept the visitors at arm's length the rest of the way.