WNBA Phoenix Mercury

Mercury Rips Sparks 96-80

by Andrew Nordmeier
Published on August 6, 2006 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury


The Phoenix Mercury must be taking inspiration from Siddhartha, the ancient founder of the Jain religion in India. In the religion, the Jains thought that by going hungry and starving themselves they would establish a stronger spiritual connection.

The Mercury seems to be fasting itself towards a connection with the playoffs by posting its fourth straight win, this time 96-80 over an exhausted Los Angeles Sparks team Saturday night at the US Airways Center. The Sparks were at the tail end of an eight-game, two-week road trip, which saw them go 4-4.

Unfortunately for Phoenix (14-16), the Seattle Storm knocked off the Charlotte Sting 87-81 to keep the Mercury 2 ½ games out of the final playoff spot with four games left in the season.

"We need to win every game. So obviously this was a big game because it was the next game," Phoenix Head Coach Paul Westhead said, "We're going to play like it's life or death, because it is."

Mercury Guard Diana Taurasi led all scorers with 34 points on the night and finished three points shy of setting a WNBA record for most points scored in a season. She is three points away from breaking Katie Smith's record of 739 points set in the 2001 season.

While Taurasi was filling the basket, Sparks' center Lisa Leslie was held to just eight points and played just two minutes in the fourth quarter. The reason Leslie was held so low was the lockdown defense of Mercury center Kristen Rasmussen.

"It was my job to do whatever it took to take her out of the game so that was my focus tonight," Rasmussen said, "If you look at our defense it was the key to tonight."

In the first half, the Sparks (23-9) were plagued by weak shooting from the field, hitting six of their first 23 shots and finished the half 11-of-32 from the floor. Los Angeles trailed 44-37 at half thanks largely to a 13-of-14 effort from the foul line. The Mercury opened the second half on a 14-4 run in the first three minutes to put the Sparks out of striking distance.

Penny Taylor added 17 in the winning effort despite being weighed down with four first-half fouls. Cappie Pondexter scored 17 and Kelly Miller scored 10 for Phoenix. Temeka Johnson led all Sparks players with 17 points.

Phoenix will try to extend its winning streak to four games Tuesday night against the Minnesota Lynx at the US Airways Center. Tip-off is 6:30 pm Pacific time and can be seen on ESPN2.

"We just have to keep taking it one game at a time," Rasmussen said, "We can't worry about the standings and who's winning and who's losing."

Notes: LA played without Chamique Holdsclaw who was sidelined with plantar fasciitis for the second straight game...Phoenix posted its first win against a Western Conference team since downing Minnesota June 28th...Phoenix has won three straight for the first time this season while the Sparks have dropped three in a row for the first time all year...Attendance was 7,952.

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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 6, 2006


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