Sun Freezes Mercury 85-68
by Andrew Nordmeier
Published on May 29, 2005 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury experienced an Icarus-like effect Saturday afternoon in their game against Connecticut. If you fly too close to the Sun, you're liable to get burned and fall back to earth with tragic results.
That's what happened in the second half as Connecticut used a 27-14 surge over the final 11:12 to break open a tight game and post an 85-68 win Saturday afternoon at Mohegan Sun Arena.
With the score at 56-52, Connecticut (2-1) started to pull away from the Mercury (1-3) and show why they were the defending Eastern Conference Champions.
Diana Taurasi, the former University of Connecticut star and Mercury guard, was on the bench getting her right ankle tended to when the Sun hit 5-of-6 free throws to widen the gap. Mercury guard Anna DeForge was counted to on carry the load but the team only managed one field goal while Taurasi was out.
When Phoenix took a timeout with 6:02 left, the Sun had completed an 11-3 run and was down by 12 at 69-57. Taj McWilliams-Franklin scored eight of her game-high 25 in the final six minutes to keep Phoenix at bay.
In addition to the late surge, the Sun used a terrific one-two punch from McWilliams-Franklin and Nykseha Sales to claim the win. McWilliams-Franklin was the Sun's star in the first half with 15 of her game-high 25 coming early while Sales rang up 14 of her 21 points in the second half.
In another homecoming for Taurasi, she racked up a strong 19 points but was held without an assist. DeForge led the Mercury with 20 points and a career-high nine assists.
Early on, it seemed like Phoenix was going to run away with the game. The Mercury came out on fire from the field hitting seven of its first ten shots while the Sun missed on its first six chances to open up a 17-9 lead.
Then the script was flipped and the Sun went hot while the Mercury couldn't buy a basket. The Sun hit on 16-of-26 shots after their icy start while Phoenix closed out the first half hitting 5-of-18 from the floor.
At one point, Phoenix only had one field goal, a three-pointer from DeForge, in 11 shots and watched as the Sun went on a 17-3 run to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
There is good news for the Mercury and it doesn't involve car insurance. They are expected to get starting forward Penny Taylor back for their next game. The bad news is it's Thursday night at home against the defending champion Seattle Storm (1-1).
The team reportedly held a closed-door meeting in its locker room for 30 minutes following the game.
Notes: Connecticut mauled Phoenix in the paint 42-10...Phoenix's bench continued production continued to be absent as five players combined for six points in 48 minutes...Plenette Pierson finished one point shy of a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds...The Sun hit on 17-of-24 free throws in the second half to keep Phoenix at bay.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 29, 2005
- Minnesota vs. Sacramento Post-Game Notes - Minnesota Lynx
- Lynx vs. Monarchs quotes - Minnesota Lynx
- Comets vs. Fever post-game quotes - Houston Comets
- Sun Freezes Mercury 85-68 - OSC Original by Andrew Nordmeier
- Silver Stars place Kendra Wecker on disabled list - San Antonio Stars
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