FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Mercury - Game 12 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Mercury – Game 12 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Las Vegas Aces (11-1) | Phoenix Mercury (2-9)

 

The Las Vegas Aces cruised to victory against the Phoenix Mercury, winning 99-79.

The Aces vs Mercury played at the Footprint Center on Wednesday.

Jackie Young made a career-high five 3-pointers, totaling 23 points and five assists, as the Las Vegas Aces handled the Phoenix Mercury 99-79.

The Aces score at a high rate of 92.5 points per game, their highest scoring average in franchise history. Only the 2010 (93.882 points per game) and 2009 (92.824 points per game) Mercury have averaged more in a season.

Las Vegas also increased their season scoring differential to +16.2, the largest differential in WNBA history through 12 games.

The Aces also had three players score 20 or more points for the first time this season.

A’ja Wilson secured the 61st double-double of her career and the seventh of the season with 20 points (7-of-12 FGs, 6-of-10 FTs), 12 rebounds, and two blocks. Kelsey Plum added 21 points (7-of-10 FGs, 3-for-5 3s, 4-of-4 FTs), six assists, and two steals. 

Riquna Williams has missed a 12th straight game due to lower back complications.

The Aces handled business against the Mercury

Meanwhile, the Mercury were without Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi, forcing Sug Sutton to lead Phoenix with a career-high 21 points (9-of-16 FGs, 1-for-3 3s). 

The start of the Aces vs Mercury first half. 

Moriah Jefferson tacked on 12 points (5-of-12 FGs, 2-for-4 3s), while Sophie Cunningham contributed 14 points (4-of-9 FGs, 1-for-4 3s, 5-of-5 FTs) and six assists. Megan Gustafson came off the bench and totaled 10 points (3-of-6 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs) and ten rebounds.

The Mercury kept pace with the Aces for about half the quarter, but a 3-pointer from Young at 4:32 broke a 12-all score to give Las Vegas the lead for good. 

The Aces continued to pull away and built a 13-point lead after 10 minutes of play. Young tied her season-high 3-point output in a single quarter with three. The Aces had nine assists on 11 field goals and netted six 3-pointers in the period.

Young went off for 14 points, and the Aces held the Mercury to 36 percent from the field and 14 percent from 3.

The Mercury got within eight points, 44-36, off a Gustafson and-1 at 5:07, but that was as close as the hosts would get. 

The Aces closed the period on a 13-4 run for a 17-point halftime lead. Plum and Wilson scored seven points apiece in the quarter, while Wilson was already on the verge of the 61st double-double of her career with 12 points and eight boards total in the half.

The end of the Aces vs Mercury first half. 

Las Vegas outscored the Mercury 30-20 in the third quarter to expand their lead to 27. Plum shot 4-of-5 and scored nine points in the period.

The start of the Aces vs Mercury second half. 

Las Vegas made it to 87-60 with 0.2 seconds left in the third quarter off of Candace Parker’s layup, coming from an excellent assist by Chelsea Gray. That score moved Parker into eighth in WNBA history for made field goals, passing Cappie Pondexter (2,446).

The Aces ran away with this one, assisting on 26 of their 32 made field goals.

Las Vegas shot 55.385 percent (36-of-65 FGs) from the field, the fifth-best single-game output in the league this season, while the Mercury made 42.9 percent of theirs.

The Aces went 11-of-23 from 3-point range, while Phoenix made just 5-of-20.

Las Vegas also scored 17 points off of 13 Mercury turnovers while giving up just eight points from their ten miscues.

The Aces head back home for their next four games, beginning with a June 24 clash in back-to-back games against the Indiana Fever at the Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Las Vegas erased a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit en route to an 84-80 road win over Indiana back on June 4th. Wilson posted a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Young scored 19.

The final score of the Aces vs Mercury was 99-79, Aces.

The Aces will now take on the Indiana Fever on Saturday, June 24th, at 6:00 PST.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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