Diana Taurasi propels Phoenix Mercury to a 101-82 win over the
Los Angeles Sparks – WNBA Recap
Two-time MVP Diana Taurasi pounded 20 points, dished out seven assists and grabbed four rebounds as the Phoenix Mercury beat Los Angeles Sparks 101-82 on Tuesday night at the US Airways Center. With this defeat, Los Angeles fell
to 0-5 on the road this season.
The 29-year-old guard hit 5 for 11 from the field, including 3 for 6 from three-point range, and a perfect 7 for 7 from free throw line in Mercury’s second consecutive victory. Five players from both Los Angeles and Mercury reached
the double figures. The difference on the night though turned out to be the shooting from the field. Phoenix shot 51.5 percent on the night and held the Sparks to just 42.2 percent.
Phoenix forward Candice Dupree also scored 20 points, shooting 7 for 13 from the field. She also grabbed three rebounds while Penny Taylor ended with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists. Taylor’s blitz included 3 daggers
from downtown. Kara Braxton also added 14 points and five rebounds while Marie Ferdinand-Harris came off the bench with 11 points for Phoenix, who have won six of their last seven games of this season.
Ebony Hoffman led the Sparks with 21 points on an 8 of 11 shooting from the floor and eight assists. LaToya Pringle posted 12 points and nine rebounds while DeLisha Milton finished with 11 points and five rebounds. Forwards Tina
Thompson and Jenna O'Hea racked up 10 points each in the fourth consecutive loss for Los Angeles.
Phoenix were dealt with an injury blow in the game when Ketia Swanier was injured late in the third period. She was struck on her left eye by Kristi Toliver, who was trying to protect the shot. The 24-year-old lay on the floor
for several minutes, wincing in pain and her eye bleeding. She was then taken to the locker room and did not return. Prior to injury, Swanier scored four points in more than 13 minutes.
Mercury coach Corey Gaines said, "It was a bad one to her eye; her eye was bleeding," "Anytime you get hit in the eye, it's dangerous."
Los Angeles played their second straight game without former league MVP Candace Parker, who is out for about six weeks with a torn meniscus in her right knee.
Both teams scored 23 points each in the first quarter but the Sparks seized control of the game in the second quarter and outscored Mercury 27-19, to take a 50-42 lead into the locker room.
Phoenix turned the game on its head in the third quarter. They went on an 18-2 run in the first eight minutes and converted an eight-point halftime deficit into a 14-point lead, heading into the fourth. They maintained their double-figure
lead in the fourth quarter and walked away with another impressive home victory.
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