Fortunately, that means they lost only once. The defeat came Monday night to the San Antonio Silver Stars, 74-64, at United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech.

LaToya Thomas and Sheri Sam, both in their first season with the Shock (0-1), led the way with 12 points apiece. Andrianne Ross, a rookie guard from Texas Christian, had 16 points and four assists to lead the Silver Stars (1-1).

Shock forward Plenette Pierson, who was named to the 2003 All-Big 12 First Team as a senior for the Red Raiders, started at her alma mater. But the crowd – and the Shock – received a scare when Pierson took a hard spill after being fouled on a breakaway layup attempt midway through the second quarter. Pierson did not return and is listed with a left ankle sprain.

"Injuries happen. It won’t keep me down," Pierson said after the game. "I’ll be ready to play by opening night. Basketball is unpredictable. I’m just glad it happened now rather than in the regular season when we really needed the win."

Shock head coach Bill Laimbeer also started two veterans in the backcourt, Elaine Powell and Katie Smith, with a pair of rookies in the frontcourt, Tasha Humphrey and Olayinka Sanni. Powell played a team-high 25 minutes, collecting seven points and five assists. Smith scored nine points in 24 minutes.

Thomas, whom Laimbeer said he’d like to see “a little more of” as she returns from knee surgery, also played 25 minutes. She drained her first three shots, helping Detroit draw even at the end of the first quarter, 18-18. The former Sparks forward had a team-high 10 points at halftime on 4-of-6 shooting.

First-round draft pick Alexis Hornbuckle ran the point for Detroit to start the second quarter and finished the half with five of her game-high six assists.

The Shock led at halftime, 40-39, before the Silver Stars seized the lead with 15 unanswered points early in the third quarter. Sam, who signed with the Shock last Wednesday, scored seven points during a 9-3 run that pulled the Shock within seven, 64-57.

Pierson, the 2007 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, was one of the few starters for either team that was in a position to be injured Monday. Both guards from the 2007 All-WNBA First Team – Detroit’s Deanna Nolan and San Antonio’s Becky Hammon – did not participate. San Antonio also kept key contributors Ruth Riley, Ann Wauters and Sophia Young out of the lineup.

All-Star forward Cheryl Ford did not suit up for Detroit, but still is on schedule to start the regular-season opener Saturday following off-season knee surgery.