By Stefan Swiat
May 29, 2007: Scoreboard |
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Tamika Catchings, who led the Fever in points, rebounds and assists last season, led in those three categories on Tuesday in Indiana's 89-75 road win over the Lynx
David Sherman/NBAE/Getty Images
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Double Bagel
Lynx and Comets Still Seek First "W":
Three franchises are still winless thus far this season, and two of them were in action Tuesday night. The Minnesota Lynx came into the evening losers of their first four contests, and despite 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting from Seimone Augustus, dropped an 89-75 home decision to the Fever. Tamika Catchings led four Indiana players in double figures with 21 points, while Tamika Whitmore added 17. Also in the Western Conference, the Houston Comets, unlucky in their first two matchups, fell to an 0-3 on the season due to a 82-71 home loss to the Silver Stars. The Comets became unraveled in the second quarter, posting only seven points in the period. Michelle Snow posted 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Tina Thompson scored 18. But it was too much Becky Hammon as she racked up 26 points, nine assists and six boards in the Silver Stars' win.
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ALSO MAKING HEADLINES ... |
Best in the West:
In a matchup between two of the three first-place teams in the Western Conference, Sacramento headed into Phoenix looking to solidify its supremacy as the reigning Western Conference Champion. Ahead by 10 at the half, the Monarchs seemed poised for victory, but the Mercury outscored the Monarchs by 12 in the third period before holding on for a 76-75 home win Tuesday. Despite an off-game and second-quarter ejection from the league's leading scorer, Diana Taurasi (four points), Cappie Pondexterpoured in 23 points to go along with her five rebounds and five assists, while Kelly Miller chipped in 15 points. Perhaps this will be the season that the Mercury vault themselves to the top of the West's best teams.
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"You need something to ignite the team, so getting thrown out was the perfect medicine. So I'll be looking to do that a lot more. Not!”
-- The Mercury's Diana Taurasi said in a tongue-in-cheek manner after her ejection in Phoenix's 76-75 home victory over the Monarchs on Tuesday.
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Becky Hammon, Silver Stars
26 pts, 10-17 FG, 6-9 3-pt FG in 82-71 win at Comets
Seimone Augustus, Lynx
23 pts, 9-18 FG, 2-4 3-pt FG in 89-75 loss vs. Fever
Cappie Pondexter, Mercury
23 pts, 9-18 FG, 4-6 FT in
76-75 win vs. Monarchs
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Penny Taylor, Mercury
10 pts, 2-11 FG, 0-3 3-pt FG in 76-75 win vs. Monarchs
Marie Ferdinand-Harris, Silver Stars
5 pts, 2-8 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG in
82-71 win at Comets
Nicole Ohlde, Lynx
4 pts, 2-8 FG in
89-75 loss vs. Fever
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Wednesday's games ...
Mystics at Shock: 7:30 p.m. ET
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The Monarchs went on the road looking for their third straight win Tuesday when they faced off with the Mercury. Sacramento seized control of the contest and led by 10 at the half, mostly due to the inspired play of Rebekkah Brunson off the bench. Brunson scored nine of her team-high 16 points in the first half to go along with her game-high 10 rebounds and four assists. The former Big East Defensive Player of the Year from Georgetown also added a block and a steal to her line, before watching her Monarchs fall short, 76-75. Look for the fourth-year forward to continue to provide a spark off the pine as the season develops.
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The first overall selection in this past April's WNBA Draft, Minnesota's Lindsey Harding has been steadily improving as the young season progresses. After scoring a season-high 16 in her last contest against the Sky, she followed up that effort Tuesday with a 17-point, six-assist performance in the Lynx's 89-75 home defeat to the Fever. The former Dukie showed signs from beyond the 3-point arc as well, hitting 2-of-4 from downtown. Despite the loss, Minnesota has to feel encouraged by Harding's improvement and the potential that she and Seimone Augustus possess as a dangerous backcourt tandem.
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