Taurasi scores 26 points, Dupree adds 23 to lead Mercury in 123-91 rout over Shock

Taurasi, Dupree help Mercury rout Shock 123-91

TULSA, Okla. — Diana Taurasi scored 26 points, Candice Dupree had 23 and the defending champion Phoenix Mercury beat the Tulsa Shock 123-91 Thursday night.

Ketia Swanier added 17 points, Tangela Smith 13, DeWanna Bonner 11 and Penny Taylor 10 for the Mercury (9-12), who scored a WNBA-record 67 points in the first half. Phoenix also set a record for most points in the second quarter with 36, and tied the mark for most field goals in a half with 25.

Kara Braxton scored 18 points to lead the Shock (4-18). Shanna Crossley had 12 points, Jennifer Lacy added 11, and Ivory Latta and Amber Holt 10 each. Tulsa has lost three straight after a snapping a 12-game skid last week at San Antonio.

The Mercury scored 100 or more points for the third time this season against the Shock and completed a four-game sweep of the franchise which was sold and moved from Detroit in the offseason.

Phoenix shot 59 percent (36 of 61) from the field, including 9 for 16 on 3-pointers. The Shock were limited to 44 percent (27 for 61) from the floor and 31 percent (5 for 16) on 3s.

As they have in most games this season, the Shock had trouble making shots and rebounding. They were often limited to one shot per possession while the Mercury got some offensive rebounds before scoring. Phoenix finished with a 40-33 rebounding advantage.

The Mercury stretched a 31-21 lead after one quarter to 26 at halftime and 33 after the third. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Taurasi and a layup by Swanier made it 45-26 early in the second. Although Tulsa fought back with runs, Phoenix regained momentum and kept pouring it on.

The Mercury took an early seven-point lead before Tulsa pulled to 13-11 in the first quarter. However, Phoenix took over from that point, putting together strings of runs.