Lindsay Whalen scores 21 as Minnesota Lynx dismantle Tulsa Shock 101-71 – WNBA Recap
Minnesota Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen erupted with a game-high 21 points as Minnesota routed the Tulsa Shock 101-71 on Thursday night at BOK Center.
Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve acknowledged the brilliant performance of Whalen, who scored 13 of her points in the second quarter to set the tone, "Lindsay was just really, really good in that second quarter.” "She was the key to
our transition game. She was really, really locked in from the get-go. There is not a better guard in the league at attacking the basket than Lindsay."
Besides the 21-point spurt, Whalen also contributed five assists and four rebounds. The 29-year-old shot 9 for 14 from the field as the Lynx (6-3) snapped a two-game skid.
“We were on a two-game losing streak and didn’t want it to go to three,” Whalen said after the game. “Everyone had good moments tonight. That was the difference.”
Candice Wiggins reached the double-digits for the first time this season and ended the game with 18 points. Rebekkah Brunson shot 5 for 10 from the field and ended with 12 points and seven rebounds. Taj McWilliams also scored 12
points and grabbed nine rebounds while Maya Moore posted 11 points and seven rebounds in the victory.
Ivory Latta led Tulsa with 13 points while Kayla Pedersen had 12 points, five assists, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Tiffany Jackson and Jennifer Lacy scored 11 each for the Shock, who lost their fourth consecutive
game. Lynx had five players in double figures and shot 51.4 percent from the field while limiting the Shock to just 38.1 percent.
Minnesota got off to a good start and scored the first six points of the opening quarter to take initial lead. Shock struck back though and Ivory Latta’s jumper with 5:30 to go in the opening period tied the game at 10-10. However,
Tulsa were outscored 13-8 in the ensuing passage in the quarter as Minnesota took a 23-18 advantage into the second period.
Lynx came out with all guns blazing in the second and raced to a 30-19 early. They continued their offensive assault and with nearly two and a half minutes remaining in the first half, Seimone Augustus nailed a jumper that stretched
Minnesota’s lead to 17 points, 45-28. Lindsay Whalen then pounded seven points in the last minute as Minnesota carried a 54-30 lead into the locker room.
The third quarter belonged to the Lynx yet again, as they outscored Shock 24-22 and expanded their lead to 78-52. The one way traffic continued in the final quarter and Minnesota eased to a crushing 30 point victory. This win marked
Minnesota’s season-high scoring total and Tulsa’s biggest home loss in the history of franchise.
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