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WNBA Phoenix Mercury

Mercury Downs Liberty 97-86 For 20th Win of Season

by Andrew Nordmeier
August 10, 2007 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury


The Phoenix Mercury used a 12-5 run over the game's final 2:34 to break open a four-point game and defeat the New York Liberty 97-86 Thursday night at the US Airways Center.

The run wouldn't have been necessary had New York not chipped away at the 12-point deficit they faced going into the fourth quarter.

"They hit some big shots and we got out of sync towards the end," Liberty Center Janel McCarville said, "They got a couple easy shots, lay-ups and there were missed box outs."

The Liberty was paced by McCarville's career-high 25-points and 11 rebound game. Shameka Christon matched her career high with a 25-point outing in the losing effort.

"I thought they were terrific tonight and I thought Loree Moore had a great game," New York Head Coach Patty Coyle said, "But we have to get everybody playing on all cylinders every night. We can't have a couple people just leading us, we have to get everybody involved."

Penny Taylor paced Phoenix with 31 points while Cappie Pondexter added 27 points and seven rebounds in the win. Phoenix, at 20-11, has tied the franchise record for most wins in a season and is nine games above the beak-even point for the second time in team history.

Phoenix seeks to move closer to the homecourt advantage on Saturday when they host the LA Sparks at 7pm. The magic number for wrapping up that edge is three (any combination of Phoenix wins or Sacramento losses).

"It's about clinching the number one seed," Pondexter said, "We'd have home court all the way through which is important especially in this tough Western Conference. It's something we want to strive for over the final four games."

Notes: Phoenix is now 9-2 after the All-Star Break and is now 19-8 the last two seasons after the break...The Mercury has won eight of its last nine and 13 of 17 since finding itself at .500 (7-7) on June 22nd...Phoenix is now 24-4 when scoring more than 90 points and a mind-boggling 11-2 this season when doing so.

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