Mercury-Shock Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Jun 16 2012 1:48PM

If not for facing the Tulsa Shock, the Phoenix Mercury wouldn't have a win this season.

The Mercury will go for their 11th straight victory over the winless Shock on Sunday at the Bank of Oklahoma Center.

Phoenix's struggles without Diana Taurasi continued Friday in a 78-60 loss to Minnesota. The Mercury shot 28.8 percent, went 2 of 19 from 3-point range and committed 17 turnovers while scoring their fewest points since a 77-55 loss to San Antonio on Aug. 28, 2008.

"Our shots weren't falling from the start," point guard Sammy Prahalis told the Mercury's official website. "It's pretty frustrating. And then we had some turnovers in bad spots where they just kind of fed off those and made a couple of runs."

Phoenix (2-6) is off to its worst start since 2008 as it deals with the continued absence of Taurasi, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hip flexor. The Mercury have lost five of six without the former league MVP, with the five defeats by an average of 18.2 points.

Both of the Mercury's wins, including one without Taurasi, were against Tulsa. Phoenix has lost its last two following a 79-72 win over the Shock on June 3.

Candice Dupree has averaged 23.0 points in the two victories over Tulsa, while DeWanna Bonner has averaged 19.5 in the games.

As difficult a time Phoenix has had without Taurasi, it pales in comparison to Tulsa's woes.

The Shock (0-9) have lost 15 in a row dating back to last season, including an 86-73 loss to Seattle on Friday.

Tulsa shot 39.3 percent while allowing the Storm to connect on 54.7 percent. Seattle, which had lost four straight, had a 36-23 advantage on the boards.

"One thing we can't do is get comfortable with how things are going," said guard Temeka Johnson, who scored 13 points. "It's easy for things to unfold when situations like this happen. ... In actuality, we are making some great strides and turned some things around. The best thing to do is stay as positive as you can through the storm because once you get out of it you definitely come out full speed."

While three of Tulsa's first four losses were by three or fewer points, the last two at home have been by double digits. In the last three, it has given up 92.3 points per game.

The Shock are off to their worst start since a franchise-worst 0-13 to open 2002.

"We are making a lot of mistakes, but that is more opportunities to learn from them and develop our game, personally and as a team," rookie forward Glory Johnson said.

Tulsa's last win over the Mercury was a 101-90 victory in August 2009.

Shock 87, Mercury 75

Posted Jun 17 2012 9:18PM

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Rookie Riquna Williams scored 15 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter to lead Tulsa to an 87-75 victory against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday, giving the Shock their first win of the season.

Temeka Johnson scored 13 of her 22 points in the fourth quarter against her former team to help the Shock (1-9) pull away after the teams entered the final period tied at 56. Tulsa had lost 15 straight overall since beating Connecticut 83-72 last Aug. 28.

"I thought we played great in the fourth quarter," Tulsa head coach Gary Kloppenburg said. "We got some defensive stops in the fourth quarter and that gave us a little cushion. We finished with 25 (forced) turnovers. That's a good number for us."

Glory Johnson had 10 points and nine rebounds and Ivory Latta also scored 10 points for Tulsa. The Shock got 24 points off the Mercury's turnovers to overcome 39-percent shooting from the field (25 for 65).

"They pressured us the whole game," Phoenix head coach Corey Gaines said.

DeWanna Bonner scored 24 points and Charde Houston added 22 to lead Phoenix (2-7), which beat Tulsa twice earlier this season for both of its wins.

The Mercury, already without the injured Diana Taurasi, also lost second-leading scorer Candice Dupree to a knee injury late in the first quarter. She did not return and finished with just four points.

Andrea Riley gave the Mercury the lead 13 seconds into the fourth. However, the Shock scored the next 10 points to take a 66-58 lead with 5:18 to go.

"I was just playing without thinking about things," said Williams, who scored five points during that stretch. "I think I had been thinking too much earlier this season."

After Samantha Prahalis' jumper pulled the Mercury to 76-71, Johnson and Williams combined for 11 free throws over the final 1:35 to secure the Shock's win.

Houston scored 14 points in the first half to help the Mercury to a 38-35 lead at the break.

Tulsa quickly tied it on Latta's 3 in the opening minute of the third quarter. The game was knotted twice more in a back-and-forth quarter before Williams' layup tied it entering the final period.

• Mercury: --
• Shock: --

• Mercury: --
• Shock: Johnson

• Lead Changes: 7
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
• Officials: #4 Sue Blauch, #31 Amy Bonner, #62 Jeff Wooten
• Attendance: 4200
• Duration: 2:08