July 8, 2007: Scoreboard | Video Play of the Day | Photo Gallery | Today in the WNBA Archive

PHOTO OF THE DAY New York's Cathrine Kraayeveld scored 13 and pulled down eight rebounds to help the Liberty win their second straight with a 71-61 victory over the Monarchs. Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images

Detroit Heats Up Late to Scorch Phoenix Dominant Second Half Leads Shock Past Mercury: Entering Sunday's game against Phoenix, the Shock were riding a three-game losing streak and head coach Bill Laimbeer wasn't at all happy. Laimbeer went as far as to bench All-Star Kara Braxton because of her recent play. To say Detroit got the message would be an understatement. Katie Smith finished with a game-high 20 points, 17 coming in the third quarter, while Deanna Nolan netted 18 in a 111-82 victory over the Mercury on Sunday night. Shannon Johnson came up big as well, contributing 14 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Trailing by as many as 11 in the first half and two at the break, the Shock erupted for a record-breaking 40 points in the third quarter, outscoring the Mercury by 21. They also set a WNBA record for points in a half, netting 72 after halftime. Tangela Smith led Phoenix with 16 points, but Cappie Pondexter finished with only 10 and Diana Taurasi finished just 2-of-12 from the field for five points. ALSO MAKING HEADLINES ... Home Sweet Home for the Liberty: After losing three of their last four, the Liberty outlasted Detroit in overtime on Friday for the victory. They carried the momentum from that win over into Sunday's matchup against the Monarchs. Playing at home for the first time in two weeks, New York closed the first quarter on a 16-0 run and never looked back in a 71-61 win over Sacramento. Erin Thorn paced the Liberty with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Cathrine Kraayeveld added 13 points and pulled down eight boards. Third-year pro Rebekkah Brunson led the Monarchs, scoring 18 and grabbing nine rebounds in the loss. Thorn WHAT THEY'RE SAYING "We're a fast-break team and they slowed the game down a little. That's our style and they took that away from us. That was smart." -- Mercury forward Tangela Smith, on Phoenix's struggles against Detroit. The Shock set league records in scoring for a quarter (40) and points in a half (72) in Sunday's 111-82 victory over the Mercury. Smith

WHO'S HOT Seimone Augustus, Lynx 22 pts, 7-13 FG, 8-10 FT 79-67 loss vs Comets Tina Thompson, Comets 23 pts, 9-14 FG, 2-2 3-pt FG 79-67 win at Lynx Tangela Smith, Mercury 16 pts, 7-12 FG 111-82 loss at Shock

Augustus

WHO'S NOT Diana Taurasi, Mercury 2-12 FG, 1-9 3-pt FG, 5 pts 111-82 loss at Shock Nicole Powell, Monarchs 3-12 FG, 1-6 3-pt FG, 11 pts 71-61 loss at Liberty Claire Coggins, Sky 1-7 FG, 1-4 3-pt FG, 3 pts 86-70 loss at Fever

Taurasi

WHO'S ON TAP Tuesday's Games ... Storm at Sparks, 3:30 p.m. ET Sky at Shock, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN 2 Lynx at Mystics, 7 p.m. ET Fever at Comets, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN 2

Dupree

Catchings

FILLING THE BOX SCORE The Fever hold a league-best 13-4 record and have reeled off three straight wins, including an 86-70 victory over the Sky on Sunday. One of the main reasons for their early success has been the stellar all-around play of Tamika Catchings. The five-year pro did just about everything on Sunday, finishing with 16 points, dishing out 11 assists, ripping down seven rebounds and recording seven steals. The seven steals ties a season high and moves her into third place in WNBA history in that category, while her 11 assists are a new career high. According to The Elias Sports Bureau, Catchings is the first player in league history to record at least seven points, assists, rebounds and steals in a game.

COMING UP CLUTCH The Comets needed someone to step up in order to put an end their recent losing skid. Five-time WNBA All-Star Tina Thompson did just that on Sunday in Houston's 79-67 triumph over Minnesota. Thompson scored 17 of her game-high 23 in the first half to help the Comets grab an eight-point halftime lead, which they never relinquished. She also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out four assists and recorded two steals. Seimone Augustus tallied 22 points for the Lynx, while No. 1 draft pick Lindsey Harding added 16 and four assists in the defeat.

Thompson