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| Stepanova scores 19 for Phoenix |
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| RECAP | BOX SCORE | |||
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- When the Phoenix Mercury consider the future,
all eyes turn to 6-foot-9 Maria Stepanova.
Stepanova matched her career high with 19 points Saturday night,
leading the Phoenix Mercury to an 80-67 victory over the Minnesota
Lynx.
"I felt I could have scored more," Stepanova said through an
interpreter.
The Mercury have watching the improvement from Stepanova, a
22-year-old from Russia, who is supplying youth to an aging lineup
that includes 37-year-old starting forward Jennifer Gillom and
point guard Michele Timms, who is 36.
"She is going to be the future of the Mercury," Gillom said.
"She helps me out a lot, especially at my age. She's providing a
huge lift off my shoulders."
The Mercury (7-12) were able to lob the ball inside to
Stepanova, who used her 7-inch height advantage to make 8 of 14
shots and finish with nine rebounds.
"They really did a good job of looking for her and taking
advantage of her size inside," Lynx coach Brian Agler said. "She
had a big impact on the game."
The Mercury scored the game's first nine points and led 35-22 at
halftime. Phoenix used a pressing defense to force the Lynx to
commit 16 turnovers in the first half, tying a franchise record.
"The game was decided in the first two minutes," Agler said.
"Looking back, you're playing catch-up for 38 minutes."
Minnesota, which trailed by as many as 15 points in the opening
half, went on an 11-point run early in the second half and cut the
Mercury's lead to 37-33 with 16 minutes remaining. Katie Smith led
the rally with a basket and three free throws, one resulting from a
technical foul against Timms.
The Lynx never got closer than two points the rest of the way.
"I rely very much on veterans like Michele and Jennifer,"
Mercury coach Cynthia Cooper said. "It's easy for me to scream and
yell on the sidelines, but the ones who are actually on the floor
have to get everyone focused. Michele makes a difference in any
game. She's a team leader, and we depend on her."
Trisha Fallon scored 14 points for the Mercury (7-12), who
snapped a two-game losing streak. Timms and Gillom each added 13
points, and Lisa Harrison scored 12.
"That's what it's going to take for us," Gillom said of the
Mercury's balanced attack. "We don't have a whole lot of
superstars."
Smith, the WNBA's leading scorer, led Minnesota with 27 points.
Svetlana Abrosimova added 18 points and Erin Buescher scored 10 as
the Lynx lost for the seventh time in eight games and dropped into
last place in the Western Conference at 6-12. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |
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ALSO SEE WNBA Scoreboard Phoenix team page Minnesota team page AUDIO/VIDEO   SportsCenter highlights of the Mercury's victory over the Minnesota Lynx.avi: 1290 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN Cable Modem | |
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