Fri, Dec 05, 2008

Women's Basketball

WNBA

Mercury blows 16-point third-quarter lead

The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 06.23.2007
PHOENIX — Shannon Johnson scored 23 points Friday night, and the Detroit Shock rallied from a 16-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Phoenix Mercury 87-84.
Detroit (10-1) scored 10 consecutive points while the Mercury missed 12 of its first 14 shots in the fourth quarter, allowing the Shock to pull ahead 81-80 with 3:04 left.
Plenette Pierson had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and made an 8-footer with 1:50 remaining to put Detroit ahead for good.
Tangela Smith added 15 points for Phoenix, which led 75-59 with 1:30 left in the third quarter.
● Sparks 96, Monarchs 88, 2OT: In Los Angeles, Taj McWilliams-Franklin scored 21 points, and Los Angeles overcame a 19-point third-quarter deficit to snap a three-game losing streak.
Sherill Baker added 14 points, including the game-tying free throw with 3.9 seconds left in regulation.
The Monarchs led throughout the first overtime before Spencer scored on a driving layup with 24 seconds left to force a second overtime tied at 83. Los Angeles scored the first six points in the second OT.
● Sun 78, Fever 74: In Indianapolis, Katie Douglas scored a career-high 30 points to lead Connecticut past Indiana.
The Sun snapped a five-game losing streak.
● Lynx 78, Storm 76: In Minneapolis, Seimone Augustus scored 23 points, including the go-ahead jumper with five seconds left, to help Minnesota win for the fourth time in five games.
● Comets 95, Mystics 85: In Houston, Tina Thompson scored 23 points, and Houston won its second game of the season — and of the week.
● Silver Stars 70, Liberty 63: In New York, Becky Hammon scored 19 points to help San Antonio win its third straight.