DeWanna Bonner records a double-double as Phoenix Mercury edge out Tulsa Shock 79-72: WNBA Update
Tulsa Shock netted only 8 points in the opening frame of Sunday night game against Phoenix Mercury. They displayed a resilient show in the later frames but the 8 points took its toll as Shock lost the game with a margin of 7 points,
79-72 here at US Airways Centre.
Mercury were playing without their key players Diana Taurasi (strained left hip flexor) and Penny Taylor (Torn left ACL) but even then they managed to snap a 3 game losing streak. They had played 2 back to back games on the road
and coming into the fourth they were fatigued and shorthanded. But, DeWanna Bonner netted a game high 23 points and had 13 boards allowing Mercury to improve 2-4 in the season.
Guard Samantha Prahalis was also in the mix, she recorded a season’s best performance, with 19 points and 6 assists.
With two key players sidelined indefinitely, Candice Dupree had a bigger role to play and before the game she also hinted about the fatigue but she knew she will have to step up big time.
"I think this is my first back-to-back ever on the road," Candice Dupree told the Mercury's official website. "It's tough but we can't use it as an excuse because every other team has the same thing."
Dupree chipped in with 15 points and played a pivotal role in Mercury’s success.
Tulsa had a poor shooting night as they were 33.3% from the floor that combined with the 1st frame performance compelled them to take the fall.
Jennifer Lacy came off the bench to score a team high 19 points for Shock, while Temeka Johnson barely missed her double-double, she netted 18 points and had 9 boards. Reserve Ivory Latta recorded 10 points in Tulsa’s consecutive
6th loss of the season.
Karima Christmas opened Shock’s account in the game with a trey. But Shock went ice cold afterwards and Mercury concluded the frame with an 18-5 run to build a 18-8 lead.
The 10 points lead cushioned Phoenix in the second frame and they cruised through the segment. Tulsa tried to make for the first quarter slump and by the 5:41 mark, they managed to trim down the double-digit deficit to 24-18. However
Mercury raced way with a 13-7 spurt and were on top with a 37-25 lead at the break.
Shock opened the third quarter with a 17-9 burst and reduced the gap to 46-42. Phoenix could add only 2 more points, 48-42 before Tulsa reeled off another 5-nothing run to narrow down the gap to just 1 point 48-47.
The game remained neck to neck afterwards but Phoenix managed to conclude the segment with a 4 points margin, 57-53.
Midway into the decisive frame, Mercury were leading by 69-66, before closing the game out with a 10-6 run.
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