Fever-Mercury Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Jun 18 2011 2:22PM

The Phoenix Mercury have finished last in the WNBA in scoring defense in each of the last five seasons and it's looking like that streak could continue.

The Mercury will try to avoid opening the year 0-4 when they host the Indiana Fever on Sunday.

Phoenix is off to the team's worst start since dropping its first four games in 2008. The Mercury blew a 14-point halftime lead in a 101-99 home loss to San Antonio on Friday.

Phoenix is giving up a league-high 92.3 points per game after surrendering 64 points in the second half Friday. In the last two games, it has been particularly lax on the perimeter, allowing opponents to shoot 21 of 47 (44.7 percent) from 3-point range.

Defensive struggles aren't new for the Mercury, who gave up a league-worst 93.8 points per game last year and are known for their up-tempo style.

Phoenix's offense, however, hasn't been able to compensate in 2011. Last year, the Mercury averaged a WNBA-best 93.9 points, but this season, they are down to 84.7.

"If we play bad defense then you take bad shots," said Diana Taurasi, who had 20 points Friday. "There is a laundry list of things we need to fix by getting back into the gym and working harder until we find a different mindset that works."

There are some positive signs for the offense, though. Candice Dupree, who averaged at least 15.7 points each of the last four seasons, scored 18 with 12 rebounds against the Silver Stars after recording 12 points in each of the first two games.

If the Fever (3-2) can bounce back from perhaps their worst offensive performance in nearly three years, they should provide a good test for the Mercury's defense. Phoenix lost both meetings with Indiana last year, giving up an average of 107.0 points - including a combined 53 to Tamika Catchings.

The Fever, however, struggled mightily in Friday's 68-54 loss at Seattle. After winning their previous two games and scoring at least 80 points in three straight, they shot 29.1 percent overall and were held to 19 points in the first half.

Katie Douglas scored 11 points after entering the game averaging a league-best 21.3.

It was the team's lowest point total since a 50-48 loss at Washington on July 8, 2008.

"Offensively, we just looked out of sync and didn't handle how they were coming at us and didn't make adjustments," Douglas said. "That's on us."

Catchings struggled for a second straight game, scoring eight points on 4-of-11 shooting. She also scored eight points in the previous game and is averaging just 12.6 after scoring 18.2 per game last year.

The Fever close their three-game road trip Tuesday at Washington.

Taurasi leads Mercury past Fever in OT

Posted Jun 19 2011 8:56PM

PHOENIX (AP) Diana Taurasi scored seven of her 32 points in overtime, all on free throws, as the Phoenix Mercury beat the Indiana Fever 93-89 on Sunday.

Candice Dupree had 21 points and 18 rebounds for the Mercury (1-3), who were the WNBA's last winless team this season. Marie Ferdinand-Harris added 17 points, including the final two free throws with 8.5 seconds left for Phoenix, which trailed by 12 late in the third quarter.

Jessica Davenport had 20 points and nine rebounds before fouling out 13 seconds into the extra period, Tamika Catchings added 17 and 15 rebounds for the Fever (3-3). Jeanette Pohlen also scored 17 points, including 5 for 5 on 3-pointers in the first half.

Ferdinand-Harris hit a 17-footer with 1:25 left in overtime to tie it the score at 89.

Indiana turned the ball over and Catchings fouled Taurasi with 21.7 seconds left and she hit the two free throws. She had made five straight earlier in the overtime to tie it at 87 after Indiana had scored the first five points.

Temeka Johnson made two free throws with 9.5 seconds left in regulation but Briann January found Davenport for a layup with 1.9 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime at 82-all.

Phoenix trailed 64-52 with 1:14 left in the third quarter. The Mercury rallied with a 22-10 run as Taurasi and Penny Taylor scored back-to-back baskets to tie the score at 74 with 3:38 remaining in regulation.

Despite missing nine of their first 11 shots, the Fever erased an early eight-point deficit to take a 50-41 halftime advantage. Indiana went on a 16-4 run to start the second quarter.

The Fever led by as much as 55-41 in the first minute of the second half.

With 1:40 left in the first quarter, Indiana leading scorer Katie Douglas, who has averaged 19.2 points a game in the first five contests, hurt her lower back on a fall and did not return.

Indiana's reserves outscored their Phoenix counterparts 52-21.

• Fever: --
• Mercury: --

• Fever: Ely
• Mercury: Taurasi

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #4 Sue Blauch, #9 Denise Brooks, #45 Tom Mauer
• Attendance: 7701
• Duration: 2:18