MINNEAPOLIS — Napheesa Collier scored 42 points to tie the WNBA single-game playoff record as the Minnesota Lynx defeated the Phoenix Mercury 101-88 on Wednesday night.

Collier tied Breanna Stewart and Angel McCoughtry for the 42-point record when she made one of two free throws with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter. It was one of only two misses from the free-throw line in 14 attempts for Collier, who was substituted with 58.3 seconds left.

Collier, who scored a career-high 38 points in Game 1, became the first player in WNBA history with 38-plus points in back-to-back playoff games. She also set a WNBA record for most points (80) in a two-game playoff stretch. Collier reached 38 points in Game 2 with 5:55 left in the fourth.

Minnesota plays Connecticut on Sunday, which reached its sixth consecutive semifinal after beating Indiana 87-81 earlier on Wednesday.

Kayla McBride added 15 points, and Bridget Carleton and Alanna Smith each scored 12 points for Minnesota. Courtney Williams had 11 points.

Brittney Griner scored 24 points for Phoenix and Diana Taurasi finished with 10 before fouling out with 2:34 left. Taurasi left to a standing ovation from the Minnesota crowd before Collier came to the Mercury bench for a brief handshake with her former UConn co-star.

Taurasi has not yet announced whether this will be her final year in the WNBA, but the Mercury honored her during their final home game of the regular season.

Collier scored 11 of Minnesota’s 21 first-quarter points on five of six shots. Collier finished the half with 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting to help Minnesota take a 49-47 lead into halftime. The rest of her teammates combined to make 10 of 26 from the field.

Officials reviewed a physical play in the third quarter involving Carleton and Phoenix guard Sophie Cunningham, who was assessed a flagrant 1 foul after the review. Williams was also assessed a technical foul. After everything was settled, McBride hit a wide-open 3-pointer to give Minnesota a 58-53 lead.

Williams gave Minnesota its first double-digit lead of the second half, 72-60, with 2:17 left in the third quarter. The Lynx led by double digits throughout the fourth quarter.

Minnesota improved its season record against the Mercury to 5-1.

It was Collier’s third straight playoff game with 30 points, tying A’ja Wilson for the longest streak in WNBA history after scoring 31 in last season’s loss to Connecticut.