Storm-Mercury Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Jul 12 2012 12:43PM

The Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury each want to believe they can make a run after the London Olympics.

Only one will enter the extended break on a positive note after Friday night's meeting in Phoenix.

Seattle seemed to show evidence it was turning things around after a 1-7 start by winning five straight, but it's lost three of its past five after falling 70-59 to Atlanta on Wednesday.

The Storm (8-10) scored 12 points in the first quarter and never led while being held to 39.6 percent shooting overall. Seattle has scored 59 points in each of its last three losses - which have come by an average of 17.0 points - and is the lowest-scoring team in the WNBA at 69.6 points per game.

"We clearly did not play well," said Sue Bird, who had five points while attempting a season-low six shots. "Not taking anything away from Atlanta, but we just did not play well."

Bird and the Storm will get some help after the month-long break with the return of three-time MVP Lauren Jackson, who has been training with Australia, and eight-time All-Star Tina Thompson, who's been dealing with a sprained left knee and ankle. They are also optimistic leading rebounder Ann Wauters, who missed the last four games with a strained left Achilles, will be healthy.

Despite knowing his club will go into the break with a sub-.500 record, coach Brian Agler isn't too concerned.

"There's a lot of basketball left to play," Agler said. "I don't think there's any question we're going to keep getting better. ... Obviously it's going to be good to have those people healthy and playing."

Phoenix (4-14) is similarly optimistic about a second-half run as it hopes to get Diana Taurasi back from a strained hip flexor that's kept her out 16 games this season.

Still, the Mercury have lost five straight after Tuesday's 90-71 defeat to Los Angeles. They trail the Storm by four games for the Western Conference's final playoff spot, but Friday's game is the first of four more with Seattle.

Candice Dupree sat out her eighth game in the last nine with a knee contusion Tuesday while Charde Houston left with a knee injury in the second quarter.

"It is definitely difficult when we're playing with seven or eight players," said DeWanna Bonner, who had 14 points and seven rebounds. "We're short-handed right now. ... The break is coming up, so that'll be good for our team."

The lack of bodies has been difficult for Phoenix, which led the WNBA in scoring in 2011 at 89.0 points per game but has been limited to 77.6 this season.

The Storm took advantage of the Mercury's woes in an 83-68 home win last Sunday, the first meeting between the two since last season's West semifinals. Bird scored 26 of her 31 points in the first half.

Storm upend Mercury 83-64

Posted Jul 14 2012 12:33AM

PHOENIX (AP) Katie Smith scored 14 of her game-high 19 points in the first quarter and the Seattle Storm beat the Phoenix Mercury 83-64 on Friday night.

Camille Little added 15 and Shekinna Stricklen had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Storm (9-10), who beat the Mercury for the second time in six days.

DeWanna Bonner scored 18 points, Lynetta Kizer had 14 and Alexis Hornbuckle added 13 for Phoenix (4-15), which matched a franchise record with six third-quarter points, set twice previously and most recently in 2008.

The Mercury have lost six straight and eight of their past nine.

The game was the last for both teams before the league's monthlong break for the Olympics.

Smith connected on all five of her field-goal attempts, including three 3-pointers, as the Storm ran out to an early 27-20 lead.

Phoenix rallied late in the second after point guard Samantha Prahalis left the game with a left ankle injury, pulling within 39-37 on a 3-pointer by Bonner with 1:17 to go.

Seattle pushed the lead back to 41-37 at the half and held Phoenix without a field goal over a 7:54 span of the third and fourth quarters.

Prahalis returned at the start of the second half and played the entire second half, scoring the last of Phoenix's third-quarter points on a free throw following a technical foul.

• Storm: --
• Mercury: --

• Storm: Stricklen
• Mercury: Hornbuckle

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #39 Michael Price, #49 Kevin Sparrock, #43 Brenda Pantoja
• Attendance: 7647
• Duration: 1:49