Shock Douse Sun to Stay Undefeated

By David Boucher: SPM MI Writer
Posted Saturday, June 16, 2007

Katie Smith of the Detroit Shock tries to muscle past the Connecticut Sun's Nykesha Sales. Photo by Lynn Gregg.

DETROIT, Mich. - With a 4-4 record, the Connecticut Sun ventured to the Palace of Auburn Hills to try to best the undefeated Detroit Shock Friday night. After a narrow 79-74 victory at Connecticut five days earlier, the Shock were looking for a repeat performance to push their record to 7-0.

Five players scored in double figures in last night's 75-72 encore win, led by Deanna Nolan with 18. Cheryl Ford, Swin Cash and Katie Smith each had double-doubles. Ford had 14 points and 16 rebounds, Cash 11 and 11, and Smith had 10 points and 10 assists. Kara Braxton added 14 points on 50% shooting, plus seven rebounds.

For Connecticut, four players in double figures would not be enough to take the 'W' home from the Palace. Nykesha Sales led the Sun, tallying 18 points on 50% shooting. Lindsey Whalen scored 16, Katie Douglas 15 and Asjha Jones 11, with three blocks.

The teams were evenly matched from the start of the game, with the Sun sinking two quick shots at the end of the first quarter to go ahead 23-18. Both teams needed to pick themselves up off the court as the intense play continued into the second quarter. The Shock opened the quarter with a 10-1 run that lasted almost five minutes. The Sun surged back, however, with a key 3-pointer from Douglas. Smith answered back with a 3-point shot of her own, but the Sun maintained a 39-37 lead going into the half.

“It wasn’t our best effort. It wasn’t our best game,” said Smith. “You have to play hard and you have to play smart, and we didn’t necessarily have that throughout the game.”

Defense dominated the start of the second half. Sun center Margo Dydek used all of her 7-2 frame to block one shot and pressure several others. Ford was able to battle through and convert a 3-point play. Ford also sank a jumper the next time down the court. The tide shifted with the aide of eight late-quarter points from Braxton, and the Shock were able to pull ahead to a 56-51 lead.

“I just do what I have to do,” she said. “If it’s set up for me and the cards fall right, that’s what I do. I’m not going out there just to score; I just do what I have to do and what the team needs me to do.”

The Sun were by no means done, however, pulling back ahead by one point at the 3:16 mark in the fourth quarter. A limping Nolan hit a 12-foot jumper with 2:08 left, pushing the Shock back into the lead. A Sun free-throw tied up the score as the game headed into the last 60 seconds. Plenette Pierson was able to convert a key three-point play that put the Shock ahead by one. Whalen had an opportunity to tie the game with a 3-point play of her own, but did not make the free-throw. After two Smith free-throws, Douglas missed a potential game-tying 3-point shot, allowing the Shock to continue their undefeated season.

Even though his team came away with the win, Shock Head Coach Bill Laimbeer was not satisfied with his players' performance.

“(The game) could have been easy if we had played better,” he said. “From lack of effort, or intensity, or having 'it' tonight, to turning the ball over 21 times and missing all those free throws, we gave them every chance to win.”

The Shock are back in action Saturday night against the second-place Indiana Fever, while the Sun return home to play the Chicago Sky on Sunday.

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