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http://www.wnba.com/games/20080722/PHOHOU/preview.html

Quote: The Mercury have won six consecutive meetings with the Comets, scoring 96.5 points per game while allowing 87.2. Taurasi has averaged 32.8 points in four of those matchups.

The Comets are also looking for a third consecutive win after Michelle Snow had 20 points and eight rebounds to spark Saturday's 75-72 overtime victory over Los Angeles. Houston opened the five-game homestand Thursday with a 96-88 victory over Minnesota to end a three-game skid.

Tina Thompson, Houston's scoring leader (17.2 ppg) and second-leading rebounder (7.1), is looking to bounce back from a dismal performance against the Sparks. The forward had a season-low three points on 1-for-11 shooting after scoring 25 points Thursday.

Thompson is averaging 15.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in the last four games versus the Mercury after totaling 69 points and 25 rebounds in the previous two meetings. She had 23 points and seven boards against them July 8.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/121283

Quote: Phoenix makes stops at Houston (today) and Sacramento (Thursday), two of the teams it is in contention with for the final playoff spot. And if all goes well, it could have the inside track on the West’s fourth postseason seed by Thursday night.

To make the jump in the standings, the defending champions will have to sweep their road trip, and fifth-place Minnesota, which hosts Seattle today and visits Indiana on Thursday, will have to lose at least one of its next two.

If that scenario plays out, Phoenix will at least be tied for fourth. The Mercury then return home for a pair of very winnable games before the month-long break for the Olympics. They host Seattle, which is without Lauren Jackson (Olympic preparation), and Indiana, a team that has hovered around .500 most of the season.

“We have to end on a positive note,” guard Diana Taurasi said. “I think that’s the most important thing.”

After the break, the Mercury will have seven games to make a final push.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/mercury/articles/2008/07/21/20080721mercury.html

Quote: Comets update: Houston has won its past two games, defeating Minnesota and Los Angeles at home. The Comets previously had lost three straight games, all on the road, with the first setback coming against the Mercury on July 8. Houston is 8-2 at home this season. F Tina Thompson became one of only two players in league history to score more than 5,000 career points earlier this season but had just three points in 42 minutes against the Sparks. For the season, she is averaging 17.2 points a game.

Mercury update: This is Phoenix's first trip of the season to Houston, where all-time the Mercury are 5-14. Phoenix defeated the Comets in the only prior meeting this season after trailing for nearly the entire game. With both teams sporting identical records, the loser of tonight's game will be left with sole possession of last place in the Western Conference. The Mercury play four games in six days before the WNBA takes a month-long break for the Olympics.

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mb · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:35 pm Post subject:

http://www.wnba.com/games/20080722/PHOHOU/boxscore.html

http://www.wnba.com/games/20080722/PHOHOU/recap.html

Quote: Tina Thompson had 19 points and seven rebounds as the Houston Comets rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half to beat the Phoenix Mercury, 94-92, on Tuesday night.

Quote: Houston opened the fourth by outscoring Phoenix, 10-4, and took their first lead since the second quarter, 79-78, on a 3 by Thompson with 7:20 remaining in the quarter.

The Comets used a 9-2 run to take a 91-86 lead with 2:19 remaining on Hodges' 3-pointer from the right corner. Ajavon gave Houston the lead 87-86 on a desperation 3 with 3:17 remaining.

Phoenix tried to run away with the game in the third quarter opening up a 61-50 lead on two free throws by Willingham with 6:11 remaining in the quarter, and opening it back to 10, 67-57, on a Kelly Mazzante's 3-pointer with 3:35 left in the third.

Houston answered with a 10-0 run capped by six straight points by Ajavon, including back-to-back lay-ups with 2:09 remaining.

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