Mercury 77, Shock 76

Post-Game Notes

Posted: Sept. 13, 2007

  • The Phoenix Mercury improved to 2-3 in postseason elimination games all-time and forced a decisive Game 5 on Sunday at The Palace in Detroit at 1:30 p.m. Phoenix time.

  • The Mercury improved to 22-7 (.759) over their last 29 games – the best record and winning percentage among all WNBA teams in that span. Four of those seven losses are to the Detroit Shock.

  • No team in the series has won consecutive games. Detroit won Games 1 and 3 while Phoenix won Game 2 and tonight Game 4.

  • The Shock fell to 1-3 on the road this postseason. Detroit is 5-1 at home with the lone loss coming to the Mercury in Game 2.

  • The Mercury improved to 14-1 in 2007 (13-1 in the regular season, 1-0 in the postseason) when holding their opponent under 80 points. Detroit scored 76 tonight.

    KEY STAT OF THE NIGHT

    Phoenix outscored the Shock 20-16 in the pivotal fourth quarter. All 20 of the points were scored by the team’s starting backcourt of CAPPIE PONDEXTER (8 points, 4-of-8), DIANA TAURASI (5 points, 2-of-3) and KELLY MILLER (7 points, 3-of-5). Despite shooting 34.0 percent through the first three quarters (18-of-53), the Mercury shot 50 percent (9-of-18) in the final quarter.

    KEY RUN OF THE NIGHT

    Trailing 74-70 with 2:15 remaining in their season, the Mercury went on a 7-2 run to close out the game and force Game 5. Pondexter scored four of the seven points and assisted on the other basket, a three-pointer by Miller.

    MERCURY HIGHLIGHTS

  • CAPPIE PONDEXTER scored a game-high 26 points, including 20 in the second half, on 9-of-17 (.529) shooting. Cappie was also a perfect 7-of-7 (1.000) from the free-throw line.

  • DIANA TAURASI scored 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting and grabbed 6 rebounds. Dee hit 3-5 three point shots on the night.

  • KELLY MILLER scored seven of her 13 points in the fourth quarter.

  • Phoenix outscored the Shock 14-0 on the fastbreak.

    DETROIT SHOCK HIGHLIGHTS

  • PLENETTE PIERSON scored a team-high 23 points on 9-of-10 (.900) shooting off the bench.

  • KATIE SMITH was held under 20 points for the second time in the series. Phoenix won both games.

  • CHERYL FORD pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds, including five offensive, but left the game 41.9 seconds remaining in the game.

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