Mercury Delivers Big Shocker

Phoenix Mercury Coach John Shumate knew his team was better than its 2-11 record.

On Saturday night, his players proved him right.

Adrian Williams had 20 points -- the most in her career -- and 11 rebounds as the Mercury ended the Detroit Shock’s eight-game winning streak with a 68-65 victory at Auburn Hills, Mich., in front of 6,928.

“This is the way that these women have played all season,” said Shumate, a former Detroit Piston. “We’ve been 90% of the way to these wins several times, but we haven’t been able to finish them off. Tonight, we did that.”

The Mercury (3-11) won for the first time in seven road games -- 24 hours after losing at Minnesota.

Detroit (8-2) also was playing for the second consecutive night, having won Friday in New York. The defeat was the first for the Shock since opening night.

“We weren’t going to go 31-1,” Shock Coach Bill Laimbeer said. “We knew this was coming -- we just didn’t expect it tonight. The key will be how we respond to losing.”

Deanna Nolan led Detroit with 14 points and Swin Cash added 12. Cheryl Ford had eight points

Phoenix led, 35-28, at the half.

Indiana 79, Seattle 70 -- Tamika Catchings scored 20 points, became Indiana’s all-time leader in rebounding and added seven assists to lead the Fever (7-5) in front of 7,890 at Indianapolis. It was the 10th consecutive victory at Conseco Fieldhouse for the Fever.

The Storm (7-6) played without league scoring leader Lauren Jackson, who injured her right foot Friday night.

Houston 64, San Antonio 49 -- Michelle Snow had 19 points and eight rebounds as the Comets (7-7), who led by as many as 19 in the first half, won at Houston in front of 8,789.

San Antonio (5-9) pulled within three points with 7:16 remaining, but Snow and Tina Thompson (19 points) led a 10-0 run to secure the victory.

Charlotte 69, Connecticut 55 -- Rookie Teana McKiver scored 12 of her 14 points in the first half and had nine rebounds for the Sting (8-5) in front of 7,579 at Charlotte, N.C.

Andrea Stinson had 15 points for the Sting, which won its sixth consecutive home game.

Connecticut is 6-7.