Dupree Leads Mercury Over Stars

By Ben York, PhoenixMercury.com
Posted: August 7, 2014

As Brittney Griner said on Tuesday after the Mercury's win over the Dream, "It's not how you start; it's how you finish." She's almost certain to have similar thoughts after Thursday's overtime win in San Antonio against the Stars, 78-73.

At 25-4 on the season, the Mercury is just three wins shy of tying a WNBA record for most wins in a season (28) with five games to play.

It wasn't a particularly pretty game by any stretch of the imagination, as the Mercury scored just 11 points in both the second and third quarters. Phoenix was up by double-digits at one point before surrendering their lead to San Antonio in the second half.

They did, however, hold Becky Hammon to 0 points and forced the Stars into just 36 percent shooting from the floor. The Mercury also assisted on 20 of their 30 made field goals.

Phoenix was led by a monster game from Candice Dupree who finished with 20 points and 18 rebounds on 8-of-19 shooting. Penny Taylor had a typical Penny-Taylor-type-of-game with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists. In fact, Dupree and Taylor combined to score 24 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

DeWanna Bonner added 13 for Phoenix who has won three straight games since losing to the Minnesota Lynx (who broke their 16-game winning streak).

Finally, it was an historic night for Brittney Griner who surpassed the late Margo Dydek for the most blocks in a single season in WNBA history (115) at the 7:03 mark of the third quarter (Griner finished with five blocks in the game giving her a total of 117 on the season). She also tallied 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Next up, Phoenix hosts the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday, August 9 at 7 p.m.

X-FACTOR

Phoenix held Becky Hammon to 0 points on 0-3 shooting in 20 minutes of action. They also held San Antonio to 36 percent shooting from the floor.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Candice Dupree started the game 1-of-7 shooting, but finished 8-of-19 for 20 points to go along with her 18 rebounds. Dupree kept the Mercury in the game when their lead started to slip.

STAT(S) OF THE NIGHT

5 - the number of blocked shots by Brittney Griner who set a WNBA single-season record in blocks passing the late Margo Dydek.

TWEET OF THE NIGHT