CLEVELAND -- Two seasons after going 7-25, the Cleveland
Rockers clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Rookie Penny Taylor and veteran Merlakia Jones each scored 14
points to help Cleveland overcome an 11-point deficit Wednesday
night and defeat the Detroit Shock 73-66.
"No one really gave us a chance at the start of this season, so
this is even more special," Jones said.
Cleveland (22-7) improved to 14-1 at home and secured home-court
advantage throughout the conference playoffs. The Rockers also won
their conference in 1998 but lost to Phoenix in the semifinals.
Dan Hughes was hired as the Rockers' coach after the 7-25
season. He guided Cleveland to a 17-15 record and a first-round
playoff win over Orlando before losing to New York in the
Conference Finals.
"I'm really proud of this team," Hughes said. "The turnaround
from two years ago speaks a lot about these players and how hard
they work."
Cleveland had plenty of work to do after Astou Ndiaye-Diatta
scored the first seven points of an 18-2 Detroit run that put the
Shock ahead 47-36.
"We played well, but could not finish it," said Ndiaye-Diatta,
who had 19 points. "Give the Rockers credit for making a great
comeback."
Taylor, a first-round pick from Australia, hit consecutive
3-pointers to lead the Rockers' rally.
"I realized we needed a bit of a spurt," Taylor said. "It
just turned out they were threes that I hit."
Taylor said injured teammate Eva Nemcova, one of the league's
best 3-point shooter, told her to go for the 3s.
"Eva saw they were not playing up on me. She said they were
giving me space and that's the time to put it up."
Cleveland hit four straight 3-pointers and six overall during a
30-12 spurt that gave the Rockers a 66-59 lead. Cleveland made 12
of 14 shots overall during the run.
Elena Tornikidou kept Detroit close. Tornikidou made two
3-pointers and scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half.
Dominique Canty also scored 12 points for the Shock (8-21).
The Rockers shot 7-for-9 from 3-point range, overcoming the
Shock's strong inside defense.
Still, Cleveland's two centers managed to contribute 23 points.
Starter Ann Wauters scored 12 points and reserve Chasity Melvin
added 11, including a 3-pointer with the shot clock running down.
Melvin is now 2-for-2 from beyond the arc this season.
Jones made four free throws in the final minute of the first
half as Cleveland opened a 32-26 lead, but Jae Kingi hit a
3-pointer for Detroit as the first-half buzzer sounded.
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ALSO SEE
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Detroit team page
Cleveland team page
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