WNBA Phoenix Mercury

Mercury Earns Gold Star With 76-69 Win Over Silver Stars

by Andrew Nordmeier
Published on July 6, 2005 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury


One streak ended for the Phoenix Mercury Tuesday night at the SBC Center while another one continued. The Mercury, backed by a season-best 21 points from Penny Taylor, ended a five-game skid with a 76-69 over the San Antonio Silver Stars.

The streak that lives on is that Phoenix has won its last five over San Antonio and had to avoid some close calls to do so. Phoenix led by as many as 13 in the first half but the Silver Stars rallied back early in the second to cut into the lead.

Leading 38-30 to start the second half, San Antonio went on a 6-0 spurt early to cut Phoenix's lead to four. The teams battled back and forth and the Silver Stars were within two after a pair of Katie Feenstra free throws with 13:20 left.

Just when it seemed like San Antonio (5-13) was in position for a third straight win, Phoenix (4-11) called a timeout and changed the game.

Taylor hit a pair of three-pointers and Shereka Wright added a basket to help re-establish a seven-point edge at 58-51. Although the Silver Stars tried one last time to battle back, they never got closer than four points down the stretch.

Phoenix dominated the rebounding battle by a 41-23 margin highlighted by 15 offensive boards. After Taylor's offensive performance, Anna DeForge added 13 points and Diana Taurasi chipped in 11 and eight assists. Taurasi sat for most of the second half after picking up her fifth foul with 13:20 left.

Kamila Vodichkova added a double-double with 13 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.

For the Silver Stars, Wendy Palmer-Daniel led the way with 17 points while Shannon Johnson scored 11 and Feenstra added 10. All-Star Marie Ferdinand was held to just seven points on 3-of-13 shooting and was pointless at the half.

With the win Phoenix sends San Antonio to the Western Conference cellar for now. Phoenix's last win was also over San Antonio on June 15 when the Mercury erupted for 52 points in the second half.

The Mercury will be tested as they fly out of San Antonio tomorrow morning and have to face the Seattle Storm Wednesday night at America West Arena. It's the first of four straight home games before heading back out on the road to San Antonio on the 23rd.

Notes: San Antonio was trying to get its first three-game winning streak since August of 2003...The Mercury dished out a season-high 20 assists, double the Silver Stars' output...San Antonio never led in the game.

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