Tulsa Routs Phoenix For First Win Of 2014

Four Shock players scored in double figures, led by rookie Odyssey Sims' career-high 21, to give Tulsa a 94-78 win over Phoenix. 

Friday, June 6th 2014, 11:23 pm

By: News On 6


The Tulsa Shock entered Friday night as the lone WNBA team without a win. It had come close on several occasions, losing four of its first five games by a combined 10 points.

Maybe it was the frustration of coming close so many times or just frustration with all the losses, but the Shock erased the goose egg in the win column against Phoenix, racing past the Mercury 94-78.

Four players scored in double figures for the Shock, led by rookie Odyssey Sims' career-high 21 points. Skylar Diggins and Riquna Williams scored 20 points and 17 points, respectively, while Glory Johnson had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

"It's been a learning process for us, ever since we started the season," Tulsa coach Fred Williams said. "I said it'd kick in one night, and tonight it really kicked in for us with a combination of guards really getting after it defensively. I thought the defense really set the tone for us."

The Shock came into the game allowing opponents to shoot a sizzling 48 percent from 3-point range through five games this year, but held Phoenix to just a 1-for-7 performance from distance and 43.6 percent overall from the field.

Tulsa shock 51.5 percent from the field, despite a 4-of-18 performance from 3-point range.

Diana Taurasi led Phoenix with 22 points, but went just 5-of-12 from the field. Taurasi earned most of her points at the foul line, going 12-for-12.

"She's one of the best players in the league," Sims said of Taurasi. "There's no stopping her. She's going to score. I just played hard and never got down on myself. I just tried to contain her and not let her go."

Penny Taylor had 13 points and Mistie Bass had 11.

The Shock blew the game open in the second quarter, outscoring the Mercury, 34-16 to open up a 50-33 halftime lead.

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