PHOENIX (AP) Becky Hammon scored 13 of her 19 points in the first half to lead the San Antonio Silver Stars past Phoenix 89-47 on Sunday, extending their franchise-best winning streak to 11 games and handing the Mercury their worst loss.
Hammon, a member of the Russian Olympic team that lost in the bronze-medal game to Australia, made two 3-pointers in the first half as the Silver Stars built a 19-point lead by the break.
Alexis Hornbuckle had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Mercury, who have lost eight straight, dating back to July 1.
The 42-point margin surpassed an 89-48 loss to Seattle on July 19, 2002.
It was also the most lopsided game of the season for both teams as San Antonio hadn’t won by more than 21 and Phoenix’s worst loss a 22-point defeat to Minnesota in the season opener.
Danielle Adams had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Silver Stars, and Shameka Christon added 10 points.
DeWanna Bonner, the Mercury’s leading scorer at 20.1 points a game, was held to 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting. Phoenix had its poorest offensive output of the season after a low of 58 against Seattle on Thursday, in its first game after the month-long Olympic break. The Mercury were just off a franchise worst 45 points, set in 2004.
The Mercury played without Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi, who was not with the team after undergoing a dental procedure on Friday. Taurasi has missed 18 of Phoenix’s 20 games this season with a hip flexor but led the Americans in scoring during the Olympic tournament, averaging 12.4 points a game.
Phoenix regulars Candice Dupree (knee), Alexis Gray-Lawson (knee) and Charde Houston (ankle) all sat out on Sunday with injuries.
The Mercury missed 12 of their first 14 shots, allowing San Antonio to grab an early 18-6 lead in the first 8 minutes. Phoenix only shot 7 for 32 (22 percent) from the field in the first half, trailing 41-22 at the break. It was the fewest points in a half by the Mercury all season.
The Silver Stars had a key 10-3 spurt late in the second quarter, capped by Jia Perkins’ 3-pointer that gave them a 40-20 lead.
Phoenix got within 14 in the third quarter
