West Palm Beach, FL (AHN) - The West got the better of the East in WNBA action on Tuesday as the Los Angeles Sparks toppled the New York Liberty, but the Sun is still shining in Connecticut as that red-hot team improved to 9-2 in July with a conquest of the Chicago Sky to highlight the night's action. Detroit also kept its winning motor going with a victory over San Antonio, which dropped the Silver Stars into a tie with Phoenix atop the Western Conference standings.

Detroit Shock (21-6) 84, San Antonio Silver Stars (16-9) 79

In a match-up of division leaders, Plenette Pierson came off the bench to score 22 points, Katie Smith poured in 21 points, and hit the deciding free throws with under three seconds left while Deanna Nolan had 15 points for the Shock.

Becky Hammon paced San Antonio (16-9) with 26 points, and hit on all nine of her free throws, while Sophia Young chipped in with 23 points and seven rebounds for the Silver Stars, who split two games with Detroit this season. The loss dropped the Silver Star into a first place tie with Phoenix atop the Western Conference standings.

Phoenix Mercury (17-10) 76, Houston Comets (8-18) 74

Diana Taurasi scored 19 points and had some key late baskets to help the Mercury rise over the Comets for the fourth time this season. Taurasi buried a long-distance 3-pointer to cap a 10-0 run with 3:44 to go which the Mercury road to victory.

Cappie Pondexter added 14 points for the Mercury, who moved into a first-place tie with San Antonio in the Western Conference.

Michelle Snow scored 21 points for Houston and Sancho Lyttle had a career-best 15 points, but Tina Thompson missed a lay-up before the buzzer that could have sent the game into overtime.

Sacramento Monarchs (15-10) 78, Seattle Storm (13-14) 74

Nicole Powell scored 28 points for her second straight strong game and Yolanda Griffith added 13 points and eight rebounds for Sacramento, who pulled to within a game of first place in the West.

Lauren Jackson had 30 points, eight rebounds and seven blocks to lead Seattle and Sue Bird netted 12 points and kept the game close in the final quarter.

Los Angeles Sparks (9-16) 73, New YorkLiberty (10-15) 63

Mwadi Mabika scored 19 points to pace Los Angeles, Taj McWilliams-Franklin chipped in with 13 points and 13 rebounds and Temeka Johnson and Sidney Spencer added 10 points each in a balanced L.A. attack.

Janel McCarville netted 16 points and Loree Moore had 10 points for New York, which has lost seven straight games.

Connecticut Sun (15-12) 74, Chicago Sky (12-15) 56

Katie Douglas scored 18 points and Asjha Jones nearly contributed a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds to lead the Sun.

Evanthia Maltsi added 13 points for Connecticut and Lindsay Whalen had 10 points as the Sun won their third consecutive game and ninth in 11 July contests.

Jia Perkins scored 17 points for Chicago and Stacey Dales netted 10 points, but Candice Dupree was limited to just four points, 14 below her season average.

Indiana Fever (17-10) 66, Washington Mystics (10-15) 57

Tan White scored 20 points and Tamika Whitmore added a strong double-double with 17 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for the Fever.

Alana Beard had 15 points and DeLisha Milton-Jones chipped in with 12 points for the Mystics, who went 0-4 against the Fever on the season.

The Fever still trail Detroit by four games in the East.