Silver Stars-Mercury Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Aug 18 2012 2:59PM

The San Antonio Silver Stars keep rolling along.

The Phoenix Mercury can't get anything going.

San Antonio looks to extend its franchise-best winning streak to 11 on Sunday when the host Mercury try to avoid a team-record eighth straight defeat.

In their first game back from the league's month-long Olympic break, the Silver Stars (14-5) beat league-worst Tulsa 89-79 on Friday to remain undefeated since losing at Seattle on June 22.

San Antonio, second in the Western Conference behind defending champion Minnesota, was led by Sophia Young's 20 points while the guard trio of Becky Hammon, Danielle Robinson and Jia Perkins combined for 47.

"We don't get rattled too much," Robinson said after a game which the Silver Stars trailed entering the fourth quarter.

During the 10-game win streak, Hammon is averaging 17.0 points and 6.3 assists, Robinson is scoring 10.3 points per game and Perkins is averaging 13.6 while hitting 24 of 47 from 3-point range.

"They are a good backcourt," Shock coach Gary Kloppenburg said. "You've got Hammon who can shoot from anywhere and Robinson who can make the mid-range shot. And with Perkins off the bench, they are probably the best backcourt in the league."

Mercury coach Corey Gaines doesn't need to be reminded of how well the 35-year-old Hammon can still get the job done. She scored 17 of her 22 points in the second half of an 82-81 home win over Phoenix on July 3 after recording season highs with seven 3s and 30 points in an 85-66 victory over the Mercury on June 1.

"Becky has still got it," Gaines said after the team's first meeting of 2012. "She may be a little long in the tooth, but she can still go."

The same can't be said of the Mercury (4-16), who have gone from the league's top offensive team of 2011 to one of the worst this season. Phoenix missed 41 of 66 shots and committed 19 turnovers in Thursday's 72-58 loss at Seattle.

DeWanna Bonner had a season-low seven points on 3-of-18 shooting for the Mercury, who are last in the league in field-goal percentage (38.6) and 3-point percentage (29.5).

"We've been trying to find our rhythm all year, and the injuries don't help," Gaines said.

Candice Dupree and Charde Houston are both out following knee surgeries during the Olympic hiatus, but the possible return of Diana Taurasi could provide a big lift. Limited to two games this season due to a strained hip flexor, Taurasi was not with Phoenix on Thursday after a delayed return from London, where she scored a team-high 12.4 points per game to help the U.S. win gold.

The Mercury, who also will try to avoid a franchise-record fifth consecutive home loss, won 87-81 in the Silver Stars' last game in the desert Aug. 20.

San Antonio, though, has won a team-record six consecutive road games.

Silver Stars rout Mercury for 11th straight win

Posted Aug 19 2012 11:01PM

PHOENIX (AP) Becky Hammon scored 13 of her 19 points in the first half to lead the San Antonio Silver Stars past Phoenix 89-47 on Sunday, extending their franchise-best winning streak to 11 games and handing the Mercury their worst loss.

Hammon, a member of the Russian Olympic team that lost in the bronze-medal game to Australia, made two 3-pointers in the first half as the Silver Stars built a 19-point lead by the break.

Alexis Hornbuckle had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Mercury, who have lost eight straight, dating back to July 1.

The 42-point margin surpassed an 89-48 loss to Seattle on July 19, 2002.

It was also the most lopsided game of the season for both teams as San Antonio hadn't won by more than 21 and Phoenix's worst loss a 22-point defeat to Minnesota in the season opener.

Danielle Adams had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Silver Stars, and Shameka Christon added 10 points.

DeWanna Bonner, the Mercury's leading scorer at 20.1 points a game, was held to 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Phoenix had its poorest offensive output of the season after a low of 58 against Seattle on Thursday, in its first game after the month-long Olympic break. The Mercury were just off a franchise worst 45 points, set in 2004.

The Mercury played without Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi, who was not with the team after undergoing a dental procedure on Friday. Taurasi has missed 18 of Phoenix's 20 games this season with a hip flexor but led the Americans in scoring during the Olympic tournament, averaging 12.4 points a game.

Phoenix regulars Candice Dupree (knee), Alexis Gray-Lawson (knee) and Charde Houston (ankle) all sat out on Sunday with injuries.

The Mercury missed 12 of their first 14 shots, allowing San Antonio to grab an early 18-6 lead in the first 8 minutes. Phoenix only shot 7 for 32 (22 percent) from the field in the first half, trailing 41-22 at the break. It was the fewest points in a half by the Mercury all season.

The Silver Stars had a key 10-3 spurt late in the second quarter, capped by Jia Perkins' 3-pointer that gave them a 40-20 lead.

Phoenix got within 14 in the third quarter but San Antonio finished the period on a 13-4 run to take a 65-42 advantage into the final 10 minutes.

• Silver Stars: --
• Mercury: --

• Silver Stars: --
• Mercury: Prahalis

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #55 Eric Brewton, #7 Clarke Stevens, #46 Tim Greene
• Attendance: 10656
• Duration: 1:57