 |
| Penny Taylor stepped up this week for missing teammates Cappie Pondexter and Diana Taurasi. |
| Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty Images |
On Wednesday night, Phoenix lost to Washington 106-101, but not without putting up a fight. The lead changed nine times and the Mercury outscored the Mystics in two of the four quarters. Taylor contributed 23 points and tied Kelly Miller for the team high in rebounds with seven. Focused and determined to keep her team in the game, Taylor nailed all seven of her free throws and shot 53.8 percent from the field.
Taylor's big week continued Friday night against the Shock. Phoenix led by seven at the half but fell short at the end, losing 87-84. Taylor's hot hand and ferocious defense kept the Mercury in the game as the final moments ticked down. While Phoenix was unable to pull the trigger on a 3-point buzzer-beater that might have tied the game, it was Taylor's game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds that gave the Mercury a chance at the end.
But it was Sunday against the Comets that Taylor gave her best performance of the week. Sans a suspended Diana Taurasi and the injured Cappie Pondexter, and playing through the pain of an abdominal injury, Taylor posted 30 points and seven rebounds as the Mercury came out on top 90-85. She dove for loose balls, drew fouls, found open men and hit her shots.
"That was as courageous a performance as I've seen," coach Paul Westhead told the East Valley Tribune.
For the numbers she posted and the character she displayed during the past week, Penny Taylor has earned this week's Peak Performer honor.
| Week Five | |||||||||||||||
|
Date
|
Opp
|
Result
|
Min
|
FG
|
3P
|
FT
|
ORB
|
DRB
|
TOT
|
AST
|
ST
|
BL
|
TO
|
PF
|
PTS
|
|
Jun 24
|
vs. HOU
|
33
|
8-14
|
0-1
|
14-15
|
3
|
6
|
9
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
4
|
30
|
|
|
Jun 22
|
vs. DET
|
33
|
8-14
|
1-3
|
6-6
|
4
|
6
|
10
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
23
|
|
|
Jun 20
|
vs. WAS
|
28
|
7-13
|
2-15
|
7-7
|
1
|
6
|
7
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
6
|
23
|
|
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