Mercury-Mystics Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Jun 30 2012 4:15PM

Following a career-best outing from DeWanna Bonner, the Phoenix Mercury are in position to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Phoenix will take on the Eastern Conference-worst Washington Mystics on Sunday.

While the Mercury (4-9) have struggled without Penny Taylor (ACL) and Diana Taurasi (hip flexor), they have won two of their last four, including an 84-81 victory over Chicago on Friday.

Phoenix prevailed despite being further short-handed as forwards Candice Dupree and Nakia Sanford sat out a fourth straight game with knee contusions. Bonner scored a career-high 27 points, and the Mercury held on after failing to protect a 14-point lead.

"We have so many injuries that we just rallied and said, 'Yeah, we're young, but let's get some wins and let's get rolling and play with some spirit and let's play with some energy,'" said Samantha Prahalis, who finished with 14 points.

With all the injuries, Bonner continues to carry the team. She's averaged 24.7 points over the last three games and is now third in the league in scoring with 20.4 per game. Bonner's career-high scoring average was 12.0 points in 2010.

"She's our go-to player now," coach Corey Gaines told the Mercury's official website. "We try to get her as many shots as we can. She is starting to come into her own and she knows where to get her shot from."

Bonner will look to keep things going against the Mystics (2-10), who have the second-worst record in the WNBA and have lost five straight, including an 80-77 defeat to Phoenix on June 20.

Bonner had 19 points in that victory while Prahalis scored seven of her 15 in the final 2:02 and made the tiebreaking layup with 23 seconds left.

Washington's skid continued Friday with a 77-64 home loss to Connecticut after shooting 32.5 percent.

"When you don't make shots, it's a little deflating," coach Trudi Lacey said. "We came out and missed a couple of shots and turned the ball over. It takes us out of our offensive rhythm."

The Mystics have averaged 63.3 points and shot 36.0 percent over the last three games. For the season, they are putting up a league-worst 68.1 points per game and shooting 41.5 percent.

Monique Currie will try to help Washington end its slide. She had a season-high 21 points Friday after scoring 15 the previous game. Currie had one of her better games of the season against Phoenix with 20 points.

Washington hasn't lost six in a row since a nine-game skid in August.

Mystics end skid, topple Mercury 90-77

Posted Jul 01 2012 7:36PM

WASHINGTON (AP) The Washington Mystics used a fast start to end their skid.

Crystal Langhorne scored 22 points and Noelle Quinn scored a season-high 18 and the Mystics earned a 90-77 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday.

Rookie Natalie Novosel added 12 points for the Mystics (3-10), who entered the game averaging the fewest points in the WNBA, but produced their highest scoring total of the season. Washington never trailed en route to snapping a five-game skid, which included a loss at Phoenix 12 days ago.

Charde Houston scored 17 of her 26 points in the second half for the Mercury (4-10), matching her career best. DeWanna Bonner and Samantha Prahalis each scored 20.

Langhorne scored 11 points and the Mystics finished the first quarter shooting 64.7 percent for a 27-18 lead. It marked the first time all season Washington led after the first quarter.

``First quarters and third quarters have been our Achilles' heel and the starters did a great job. They got after it defensively, got us a lead,'' Quinn said. ``We didn't have to play from behind, we didn't dig ourselves into a hole. We kept our lead, kept our aggression and just played together.

The Mystics scored a season-high 50 first-half points for a 50-41 lead at halftime and extended the lead to 16 in the second half.

Part of the Mystics' starting lineup most of the season, Quinn came off the bench against the Mercury, but was front and center throughout.

``It's a good look for me,'' Quinn said about the reserve role. ``It makes me come in there knowing that I have to be a difference maker.''

She scored eight consecutive points for Washington in the second quarter, helping to offset Bonner's 18 first-half points.

Phoenix pulled with five at 69-64 early in the fourth quarter, but the Mystics quickly countered with a 6-0 run.

``I just think because it's not done all the time, teams can forget about (Noelle) a little bit,'' Houston said. ``When you forget about her, that's when she kills you. She definitely hurt us tonight.''

Langhorne added seven points inside the final 4:46 as the Mystics held on for their third home win of the season.

``When it came time for us to make key stops, we struggled,'' Houston said.

Washington's other victories this season were by a combined four points.

``Anytime you win it's very calming,'' Langhorne said. ``When you keep losing, it's stressful. To get this win today, it's a good feeling.''

The short-handed Mercury have lost seven of nine road games this season. Diana Taurasi (hip flexor) has missed 12 of 14 games this season and Candice Dupree (left knee contusion) sat out a fifth straight game.

Washington closes its four-game homestand on Friday against San Antonio after Phoenix wraps up its four-game road trip against the Silver Stars on Tuesday.

• Mercury: --
• Mystics: --

• Mercury: --
• Mystics: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #38 Lamont Simpson, #53 Jeff Smith, #46 Tim Greene
• Attendance: 10789
• Duration: 1:59