Final
Dupree helps Mercury beat Silver Stars
Aug 4, 2010 - 3:40 AM SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Candice Dupree scored 24 points and the Phoenix Mercury opened the second half with a big run before cruising past the San Antonio Silver Stars 103-92 on Tuesday night.Dupree had 10 points in a 21-2 surge that turned a one-point halftime deficit into a commanding lead, helping the Mercury (13-13) return to .500 for the first time since June 12.
"We were a little more aggressive on defense, and we ran the floor more to try and tire them out," said Dupree, who was 12 of 15 from the field and also grabbed 12 rebounds. "I think it worked for us."
Phoenix made nine of 10 shots in the first 4:45 of the second half while forcing four turnovers and holding the Silver Stars to 1-of-6 shooting.
"The issue was to keep pushing and play our style of basketball," said Johnson, who had five points and two assists in the key stretch, and finished with 13 and six. "We didn't really change much."
The defending WNBA champions solidified their hold on second place in the West with their third straight victory and sixth in seven games.
League scoring leader Diana Taurasi had 21 points and 10 assists in Phoenix's first victory in San Antonio since Aug. 2, 2008.
"It was huge, because San Antonio's a team that we've always had trouble with, especially here," Taurasi said. "Today was a big game for us to come out here on the road and play solid basketball, and we got a win out of it."
The Silver Stars (10-16), who carried an 11-point lead into the second quarter, were trying to pull within a game of the Mercury in the first of back-to-back games between the teams. They play again Friday in Phoenix, then conclude the regular season with an Aug. 22 matchup in San Antonio.
Sophia Young scored 18 of her 24 points in the first half for San Antonio. Chamique Holdsclaw, who sparked a brief Silver Stars rally in the fourth period with back-to-back 3-pointers, finished with 20 points.
San Antonio committed 16 turnovers, leading to 31 Phoenix points.
"The key stat really was the turnovers," Silver Stars coach Sandy Brondello said. "You just can't allow that, especially with a team like Phoenix that obviously wants to play that fast pace. They have so many options. If we break down, they hurt us."
Becky Hammon had 13 points and a career-best 11 assists for San Antonio.
- WNBA
PHOENIX 103
SAN ANTONIO 92 FINAL
Aug 3 9:51 PM - WNBA
PHOENIX 19
SAN ANTONIO 30 END, 1ST QTR
Aug 3 8:24 PM
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