2016 WNBA playoff scores: Mercury continue run, eliminate Liberty


The Cinderella run continues for the Phoenix Mercury. After ousting Tamika Catchings and the Indiana Fever, the eighth-ranked Mercury eliminated the third-seeded New York Liberty with another impressive performance on the road, 101-94 on Saturday.

Diana Taurasi dropped 30 points including 4-for-8 from three-point area. She knocked down big shots in the fourth period where she scored 17 of her total output. Those baskets were enough to keep separation as the Liberty struggled to overcome the deficit in the end.

Taurasi improved to 13-3 overall in elimination games, and a perfect 6-0 in road elimination games, proving why she is one of the best players in the world of all time.


While most of the spotlight this season belonged to frontliners like Tina Charles and Nneka Ogwumike, Brittney Griner also showed why she is one of the best bigs in the world, finishing with 22 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and four blocks. She shot an efficient 9-for-14 from the floor. Penny Taylor added 20 points on just nine shots and 4-for-6 from three-point area.

After a 26-all first quarter, Phoenix outscored New York, 27-16 in the second quarter to take a double-digit lead into the halftime break.

But the Liberty fought back, with Sugar Rodgers and Tanisha Wright leading them on offense. A basket by Brittany Boyd tied the count at 71 apiece.

Taurasi hit a triple after but was answered by Epiphanny Prince, but Taurasi scored five more points while Marta Xargay knocked down a three which made it 84-76 for the Mercury.

The Liberty would still battle back, with back to back threes by Rodgers and Wright cutting the deficit down to 84-82. But Candice Dupree came through with timely baskets, and Taurasi made another long range shot to make it 93-86 for the Mercury with just over a minute remaining.

Taurasi then sealed the game in the end with six more points, all coming from the foul line.

The Mercury, which have been a polarizing team throughout the course of the regular season, have won back to back elimination games and are going to face the top-seeded defending champions Minnesota Lynx in the best-of-five semi-finals next.

It will be the last time Mercury's Big 5 of Taurasi, Griner, Taylor, Dupree, and DeWanna Bonner are facing the Lynx.

Wright had 21 points on 10-for-14 shooting and five assists for New York. Tina Charles finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

The game also saw Swin Cash play for the last time.

Comments

Post a Comment