WNBA Phoenix Mercury

Mercury Shuts Down Liberty 80-70

by Andrew Nordmeier
Published on July 16, 2006 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury


Yes, the Phoenix Mercury beat the New York Liberty 80-70 Sunday night at the US Airways Center. They posted the win without rookie All-Star Cappie Pondexter who was inactive with tendonitis in her knees. Phoenix (9-11) took advantage of a New York (4-16) shooting slump in the second quarter to get the win.

"I have a feeling it's going to be a few days and therefore a few games before Cappie will return," Phoenix Head Coach Paul Westhead said, "I haven't gotten an official report but my guess is Tuesday (against Washington) but maybe a little longer."

With New York leading 10-8 midway through the opening quarter, Phoenix ripped off a 26-8 surge to put the Liberty down for good. It started with a 9-0 run to establish a seven-point lead. New York's Erin Thorn scored the next five points for the Liberty but Phoenix responded with a 10-0 burst to establish a 27-15 edge with six minutes left in the first half. Thorn's points were the only ones scored for New York in a 10-minute span.

"You can't let a team like that get on a run," Liberty Head Coach Pat Coyle said, "They had seven straight possessions in the second half where they scored and we can't have that."

Penny Taylor got the starting spot in Pondexter's place and scored 10 points in the win.

"Hopefully I'll get the mental side of it back within the next game and erase mistakes," Taylor said about her level of play since coming back from her overseas commitment in Italy.

Taurasi paced all players with 29 points, finishing one shy of a piece of WNBA history. Had she put home one more point, she would have matched Cynthia Cooper's feat of scoring 30 or more points in three straight WNBA games. Three of those points came on a half-court heave to beat the halftime buzzer. Kelly Miller added 12 and Jennifer Lacy scored 12 off the bench for Phoenix. Shameka Christon paced the Liberty with 18 points.

Phoenix will head out on the road for a three-game trip as they visit Washington, Indiana and Charlotte in the next week before hosting Seattle on July 25th.

"We're playing against three of the best teams in the East," Taurasi said, noting Charlotte's recent surge, "It always starts on the road. Playoff teams are made on the road."

Notes: Phoenix held New York to 27 points, a defensive season best for the Mercury...New York played without guard Becky Hammon who has been sidelined with a leg injury...The Mercury swept the season series over New York for the first time ever...The Liberty is 0-9 when allowing 70 points or more; Phoenix is 6-0 when holding the opposition to under 80 points...Christon recorded a career high with six blocks and Loree Moore a career-high 17 points in the losing effort...Phoenix won the battle in the paint 34-22...Attendance was 6,727.

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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 16, 2006


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