Shock force Game 5!

Surprise, surprise.. the Detroit Shock showed up and played some good basketball! I had really thought that the Monarchs would finish them off at home in Game 4. However, the Detroit Shock were on the brink of losing the Finals and pulled out a 72-52 win that forces a decisive game 5 in Detroit.

Katie Smith led all scorers with 22 points. Smith, who made 8-of-17 shots, scored 11 of her 17 first-half points in the second quarter. She buried a pair of 3-pointers and a layup by Ford made an 8-0 run to give the Shock a 36-30 lead, which they never let go of.

Detroit Head Coach Bill Laimbeer had plenty to say about Smith's impact in forcing a final fifth game of the series, and her consistency throughout the playoffs.

"I'm giving Katie Smith tomorrow off. She's just so steady, she's so consistent, and she made the big shots", said Laimbeer. "Anytime they made a run, Katie Smith knocked down a three ball. Every time Katie Smith got the ball, even before she shot it, you could hear the crowd groan. That's the best feeling on in the world when you are on the road."

The Detroit Shock host Game 5 on Saturday at 3:30pm and can be seen on ESPN2.