Rookie Keys Mercury Win Over Storm

By Mandi Hardcastle: SPM AZ Writer
Posted Saturday, July 26, 2008

Phoenix's Latoya Pringle (30) goes for the block on Seattle's Yolanda Griffith as Diana Taurasi looks on. Photo by Jamie Hines.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The 8,323 fans in attendance Friday night to watch the Phoenix Mercury take on the Seattle Storm not only were treated to yet another 30-plus point game by Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, but also witnessed the emergence of rookie forward/center Latoya Pringle. After the Mercury saw a 20-point lead disappear, Pringle entered the game to help them make a final push to a 94-80 victory.

Taking advantage of the Storm’s early shooting woes and exhibiting great ball movement on the offensive end, the Mercury used even early points from Tangela Smith and six points from Taurasi to build a 26-17 first-quarter lead. Back-to-back baskets by Smith sparked a 26-13 run for the Mercury to end the quarter.

The second quarter saw an aggressive Taurasi tally 12 points, including 6-6 from the free-throw line to lead her team to a 47-27 advantage. However, with the rest of the Mercury scoring a total of nine points, the Storm, led by recently acquired Camille Little with six points in the quarter, chipped away to get within striking distance by halftime, 47-33.

Veteran Yolanda Griffith scored eight points during a 21-7 Storm run to open the third quarter that tied the game at 54. After witnessing her team’s sluggish third-quarter start, Pringle entered the game and re-energized the defending champs with hustle plays and aggressiveness. She tallied four points and three rebounds in fewer than three minutes. That was all the Mercury needed. Her teammates fed off of her energy and ended the quarter on an 18-7 run, building a 72-61 lead going into the final stanza.

The Storm continued to struggle in the fourth quarter, shooting 25 percent from the field but getting 11 points on 11-14 shooting from the free-throw line. But Pringle wasn't finished yet; she continued her aggressive play on both ends of the court to tally six points and three blocks in the quarter. Storm guard Tanisha Wright stepped it up as well, chipping in for eight points including 4-4 from the charity stripe -- but it was not enough to prevent the Mercury from walking away with the win.

While Seattle missed an opportunity to take over first place in the Western Conference, Phoenix is simply trying to keep its playoff hopes alive. Head coach Corey Gaines is aware of how crucial each game has become for his team.

“We've got to win the next one," he said. "The West is probably going to be kind of a funny deal. Maybe some teams with a winning record won’t make it. It may happen.”

Mercury guard Cappie Pondexter is also aware of the importance of each game, but remains optimistic the Mercury can grab one of the four playoff spots.

“We are in dead last," she said. "Right now we are 12-14 but we’re still in the hunt, which is a good thing. LA lost today, they are 14-12, so the games are right there. The West is so competitive this year, you don’t really know who is going to win. We've got a game Sunday; we end that with a win and go into the break thinking positive and working hard, and I think we’ll be alright.”

In the last game before the Olympic break, USA senior team members Taurasi and Pondexter and the Mercury will take on Olympic teammate Tamika Catchings and the Indiana Fever on Sunday July 27th at 9pm ET. The game will be televised locally for both teams on Fox Sports Net, and nationally on NBATV. Seattle's remaining Olympian, Sue Bird, will head to Sacramento with the Storm to face yet another Olympian, Kara Lawson, and the Monarchs. That game is also on Sunday at 9pm ET. It will be televised locally on Fox Sports Net West.

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