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WNBA Phoenix Mercury

Mercury Escapes Charlotte\'s Web, 68-58

by Andrew Nordmeier
May 27, 2005 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury


In a game featuring a pair of 0-2 teams, someone had to get their first win of the season Thursday night in the Charlotte Coliseum. The Phoenix Mercury, backed by strong games from Diana Taurasi, Shereka Wright and Anna DeForge, emerged victorious with a 68-58 win over the Charlotte Sting.

DeForge led the Mercury with 20 including 4-of-5 from three-point range. Taurasi added 19 points and seven assists while Wright's 17-point night was highlighted by 8-of-10 shooting from the foul line.

Phoenix used a surge at the end of the first half to open their gap. They blew open a 20-16 game with an 18-9 run to be up 13 points with under a minute left in the first half. They kept right on running in the second half as they came out with a 16-4 surge to open the second half and make it a 21-point lead over the Sting with 11:23 left.

Down 54-33, Charlotte made a run of its own zipping of 13 straight points to get within eight with 5:18 left before Phoenix's free-throw shooting kept the Sting at bay. Wright scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half.

Charlotte was stung by weak games from Dawn Staley and Sheri Sam. Those two starters combined for 45 minutes of play, 1-for-6 shooting from the field that led to two points and seven fouls.

For the second time this season, Phoenix relied on its starters to shoulder the load. In 43 minutes of action, the Mercury's five-player bench only scored three points and they came off of a Belinda Snell three-pointer.

Phoenix is now 4-0 all time in games in which a loss would have put them 0-3 to start a season.

The Mercury complete its three-game road trip with a Saturday afternoon match up with the Connecticut Sun at 4pm Eastern on ABC.

Notes: Sandora Irvin sat out her second straight game for Phoenix...Kayte Christensen was held scoreless in 21 minutes off the bench, the second time she has gone pointless in three games, while racking up six fouls...The 10 three-pointers is one shy of the franchise record for the Mercury...Phoenix's biggest lead was 21 points; Charlotte never lead in the game...The Mercury has started 0-2 for the fourth time in as many odd-numbered years...Charlotte outscored Phoenix 26-10 in the paint...Attendance was 4,049.

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