Hammon returns in Stars' first road win of the season

After spraining her ankle two days before the San Antonio Stars began their 2014 season, some idiot predicted Hammon would be out for a while. As it turns out, it really was a mild sprain because Hammon returned to the court tonight and played 23 minutes to boot. While her return is great for the Stars, another San Antonio guard dominated the game yet again.

I've written a lot of words on Danielle Robinson because she's very good at basketball and it's a hell of a lot of fun to watch her carve up defenders. She was the Stars' MVP in an injury-plagued 2013 season and over the first three games of the 2014 campaign has reminded us why she earned an all-star nod last year. 14 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the 5-9 point guard feels an awful lot like just another night at the office these days -- and that's sharing some of the assist duties with Hammon, who had four helpers of her own.

San Antonio's lead fluctuated (and disappeared) several times over the game, but at the end of every quarter the Stars held the lead. Phoenix cut the Stars' advantage to two points with under 50 seconds to go, but a Jayne Appel offensive rebound on a Jia Perkins 3-pointer attempt led to a foul and two free throws for the center out of Stanford. Appel made both of her baskets from the charity stripe and sealed the Stars' victory.

[Box Score] [Stars Website] [Mercury Website]

The Stars continue their tough road trip on Sunday in Los Angeles as they take on the Sparks. Don't look now, but San Antonio is riding a two-game "winning streak."