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.
