Game quotes: Phoenix Mercury vs. Chinese National Team, 106-78

Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ

Officials: #7  Clarke Stevens , #21  Byron Jarrett , #27  Penny Davis  

Attendance: 2,393

Duration: 1:44

Box score

Chinese National Team Head Coach Sun Fengwu

On Mercury: “Although they [Mercury] do not have an overwhelmingly large presence in the post they played very well. They were very quick and fast. They shot the ball very well and had very good perimeter players. They had solid guards and forwards and overall are very good.”

“They were very fast and moved well on offense and had very good transition.”

“All the players are very strong and flexible and very good at shooting”

Mercury Head Coach Corey Gaines

Opening Statement: “I see that we’re not in shape, the push was there but it wasn’t smooth as I wanted it to be but it will get there. Ketia [Swanier] did alright, she kept the pace, made right decisions. I think we had two turnovers. She was looking more facilitative than attack, but that is just her trying to fit into the team, which is a good thing, she’ll get it.”

On DeWanna Bonner’s injury: “She’s fine. She tweaked it a little bit. Didn’t swell or anything.”

On reserve players: “Lilley, I knew Lilley could shoot. She’s a shooter, that’s what she does. But her defense was impressive too. She was battling down there, trying to post her up. Which is a good play, they watch a lot of NBA games. You see China, they copy a lot of stuff. Their throwing that pass pretty well, that Steve Nash J-Rich pass, that’s a pretty good play. Probably can’t do it in the WBNA they will probably call a foul.”

On the pace of the game: “It was ok. The pace is what wore them down. They are not used to playing that fast pace. If you rev up the pace to the point where they are not used to playing at that pace, they just can’t function. If you get up on them, since the pace was going so fast, they were giving you the ball.”

Mercury forward Candice Dupree -  17 points, 4 rebounds

On her touch being a little off: “I think so. I was a little nervous, first time playing in front of the home crowd. Kind of got it out of my system in the first half.”

On the inside-out game: “Yeah, that was something I was taught back in college. Lot of that is communication. Sometimes you have to take a dribble out, kick it to the weak side. Everyone knows we have great shooters on this team. Once Penny [Taylor] and Diana [Taurasi] get here it’ll be even better.”

Mercury guard Temeka Johnson  – 21 points, 4 assists

On her first action back: “I felt good. I was a little winded in the beginning, but that’s to be expected. I had a fun out there, I enjoyed it.”

On the new players: “We know what Diana [Taurasi] and Penny [Taylor] bring to the game. It’s just good to see what different elements everybody else bring to the game, and how much they’ve elevated.

Around the Web:

• Phoenix Mercury roll in exhibition win over Chinese national team (azcentral.com)
• Phoenix Mercury vs China National Team: 106-78 (swishappeal.com)