Tuesday, July 5, 2011

MEEK RETURNS TO ACTION, MERCURY DEFEAT LA

After missing the last four games, Meek returned to action and the starting line-up as the Phoenix Mercury captured an important Western Conference game.  The Mercury have now won 6 of their last 7 and moved into third place in the Western Conference.

Despite missing the last four games with an ankle injury, Meek logged 22 minutes, scoring 5 points and dishing out 4 assists.

Diana Taurasi and Candice Dupree scored 20 points each, helping the Phoenix Mercury rally past a scary injury to guard Ketia Swanier to beat the Los Angeles Sparks 101-82 Tuesday night.

Phoenix opened the third quarter with a big run and kept it going after Swanier was helped off the court following an elbow to the head by Sparks guard Kristi Toliver. The Mercury turned a 10-point deficit into a 14-point lead in the quarter and never let up on the way to their sixth win in seven games.

Penny Taylor had 16 points and Kara Braxton added 14 for Phoenix.

Swanier went down in a heap late in the third quarter after taking an elbow to the left eye from Toliver, who swung her arm while trying to protect the ball. Swanier lay on the floor for several minutes while writhing in pain, then had to be helped to the locker room.

Toliver was hit with a flagrant foul after initially being called for an offensive foul, and Sparks assistant Joe Bryant exacerbated the situation by arguing the call and was hit with a technical. Toliver also was called for a technical foul on another call a few minutes later.

Box Score: http://on.nba.com/nIRFQC