OnOff
ARLINGTON, TX – Tonight was the final game in the Dallas Wings (2-5) 3-game homestand and they put on quite a show especially in the second half.
Dallas looked energized in the opening frame and scored a quick 10 points from inside. They would go on to score 22 points in the paint compared to the Mercury’s six in the first half.
The Phoenix Mercury (2-5) struggled gravely to find any offense in the opening quarter by going 3-18 on 16.7 percent shooting. Phoenix’s top scorers, Britney Griner and DeWonna Bonner, combined for a mere 2-9 from the floor in the first half.
Shooting from deep wasn’t so kind to either team two quarters in. The Wings went 1-11 from deep while the Mercury was 1-9. It wasn’t a pretty sight at all for anyone.
Wings’ defense played a huge role in limited Phoenix’s star players. Griner couldn’t find a consistent shot and was forced to earn nearly all of her points from the charity stripe going 5-7. The same story goes for Bonner who finished 2-12 from the floor and 4-5 from the free throw line.
Dallas led 33-27 going into halftime.
Wings’ forward, Kayla Thornton, dominated the third quarter. She knocked down a buzzer-beater from downtown and scored a team-leading 10 points. Her firecracker attitude was just what Dallas needed to remain on top 49-40 to going into the fourth quarter.
It was looking like the Wings had control of this game until the Mercury outscored them 12-4 with a little over seven minutes left in play. Essence Carson knocked down a three to make it a one-point game.
Down 53-52 Phoenix was on their way to a comeback victory but Dallas wasn’t going down without a fight. A 12-0 run pushed the Wings to a cushy 13-point lead with roughly two minutes to go.
The Mercury’s offense went ice cold for the rest of the game as the Wings sealed the victory 69-54.
Dallas showed grit in the second half tonight with help from Theresa Plaisance (12-11) and Kayla Thornton (18-11) earning their first double-doubles of the season.
Plaisance had a plus 30 rating making just about everyone on the court with her play better.
Phoenix has now lost three games in a row and needs their star guard Diana Taurasai more than ever.
Dallas has one day of rest before shipping off to Sin City and facing former teammate Liz Cambage of the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, June 22.
That’s one game you won’t want to miss.
LEADING SCORERS:
(PHX) L. Mitchel – 12 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals
(DAL) K. Thornton – 18 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists.
1 Q ended 15-12
Wings are looking energized. Put up a quick 10 points midway through the opening frame
Mercury aren’t shooting well. At 5:17 in the first, they are 1-8 (12.5%)
The Wings have found most of their success shooting inside the paint. 10 of their first quarter points have come from inside. (4:28 mark)
PHX is 1-11 at the 3:23 mark
DAL is doing their best in trying to limit Griner by double-teaming. She has a mere 3 points at the 1:57 mark
*DAL Megan Gustafson enters the game for the first time this season for the Dallas Wings.
Wings still struggling to manage the shot clock properly.
2 Q ends 33-27
Wings are struggling to shoot from deep going 0-7 at the 5:35 mark.
The charity stripe has been the saving grace for Phoenix going 7-8 (87.5) at the 5:35 mark
Kaela Davis gave the Wings their first 3-pointer of the night and extending the lead to 26-18
Imani McGee-Stafford ran into foul trouble early by collecting 4 personal fouls with just over 2 minutes left in the first half.
The Wings have led most of the duration of the game.
Griner has collected most of her points from the freethrow line.
DAL netted most of their points inside the paint with 22.
Kayla Thornton is one rebound shy of tying her season-high record of 8 rebounds. (7 as of now)
3 Q Wings up 40-49
Kayla Thornton hit an impressive buzzer-beater from downtown
Kayla Thornton is leading all scorers with 15 points (4:29 mark)
Megan Gustafson checks back into the for Imani who ran into foul trouble early
4 Q
Bonner hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit down to a 3 point game.
Sharp shooter Leilani Mitchell is hitting almost every shot from deep.
***Essence Carson knocked down a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game, PHX trailed 53-52 with 7:08 left in regulation.
PHX was outscoring DAL 12-4 (7:08 mark) in the final frame to close the gap.
KT heads to the bench to be looked at. She was seen grabbing at her back but she soon checks back in for KD.
A minimum of 3 shot clock violations against Dallas.
Griner had 5 personal fouls with just over 3 minutes left in play
KT earned her 1st double-double of the season
Theresa also earned her first double-double of the season
