Shock Unable to Keep Up With Hot Mercury

Originally Published: Jul 17, 2010 11:34 PM CDT

Associated Press

PHOENIX, Arizona – Penny Taylor scored 29 points with seven assists and six rebounds, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Tulsa Shock 97-88 on Saturday night.

Candice Dupree added 26 points and six rebounds for the Mercury (8-12), who have won three of their last four and seem to have the Shock figured out.

Phoenix had defeated Tulsa by an average of 23 points in their previous two meetings, scoring more than 110 points both times.

Scholanda Robinson had 15 points and five rebounds for the Shock (4-16), who snapped a season-worst 12-game skid Friday at San Antonio. Still, Tulsa is winless in four tries when it plays the second of back-to-back games.

Tulsa stayed with the league's top-scoring and best-shooting team for nearly three quarters, until the Mercury used their perimeter shooting and fast break to run off seven straight points twice late in the third quarter. Tangela Smith capped a 20-7 run with a 3 with 15 seconds left in the period and Phoenix led 76-64 going into the final quarter.

Tulsa got within six in the final 3 minutes but no closer.

Diana Taurasi added 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Phoenix, which has scored more than 90 points in six consecutive games -- the only team in league history to do.

Five players scored in double figures for the Shock, including Kara Braxton with 12. Ivory Latta added 11 points and four assists in her fourth game with Tulsa.

With the win, Phoenix moved a half game in front of Minnesota, to second place in the WNBA’s Western Conference.

Amber Holt was 5-for-5 from the field, including a pair of baskets in the final 2:13 before halftime to help Tulsa cut a 10-point deficit to 47-45 at the break.