AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) The changes in the Detroit Shock are obvious to Phoenix's Jennifer Gillom.

After the Mercury fell to Detroit 91-75 Sunday night, Gillom said she thinks the Shock are taking on the personality of their new coach, former Bad Boy Bill Laimbeer.

"Ever since Bill took over, they've been playing with a lot more heart and a lot more aggression," Gillom said. "They are playing like he used to play - tough and hard-nosed. You can see the improvement."

Detroit (8-20) has the worst record in the league, but is 8-10 since Laimbeer replaced Greg Williams as coach in June.

"I'm pleased with the fact that we are still playing hard, but that's going to be true of any team I coach," Laimbeer said. "The players know that if they don't play hard, they will be on the bench, and they know I'm serious about that."

Phoenix (9-19) fell to 0-14 on the road, and has lost a league-record 20 straight away from home, dating back to last season.

"It is very frustrating for us, because we play hard, we just don't play as well as we do at home," Adriana Moises said. "We just can't get a win."

The Shock, who set a season high in points, got 14 points and nine rebounds from Swin Cash, 13 from Deanna Nolan and 11 each from Elaine Powell and Dominique Canty. All 11 Detroit players scored at least four points.

"This was a great team effort - we did a really good job tonight," Canty said. "When we get our transition game right, it is pretty much unstoppable, especially when Swin has it going. She's an amazing player and she's only going to get better. That's a scary thought."

Gillom scored 20 points for Phoenix and Moises had 16.

"Jen and Adriana are playing very well for us, but we've never been able to replace the 30-40 points a game we lost from Maria Stepanova, Trish Fallon and Brandy Reed," Phoenix coach Linda Sharp said. "We are asking a lot from Jen Gillom, and she's 38 years old."

Detroit led 43-34 at the half behind nine points from Cash.

The Mercury pulled to within 52-47, but the Shock responded with a 14-3 run to go up by 16 with 11:42 to go. Seven players scored two points each in the surge.

Phoenix had a chance to cut the margin to single digits with five minutes left, but Moises missed a 3-pointer and Stacy Clinesmith hit one at the other end to increase the lead to 82-67.

Notes: The teams combined to go 14-for-14 from the free-throw line in the first half. Cash broke the streak by missing the game's 22nd free throw early in the second half. ... Detroit missed its first eight 3-point attempts. ... Phoenix's last road win was July 27, 2001 in Seattle.

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