Minnesota Lynx trio scores 15 each in a 96-90 victory over Phoenix Mercury – WNBA Recap
On Sunday night, Minnesota Lynx’s forwards Maya Moore, Monica Wright and Seimone Augustus punctuated 15 points apiece as top-seeded Minnesota took down Phoenix Mercury 96-90 in the regular-season finale for both teams at the US Airways Center.
Moore scored six of her points in the last 3:41 of the second period. Minnesota’s forward Rebekkah Brunson had 14 points and three rebounds while Jessica Adair came off the bench with a double-double, grabbing a game-best 13 rebounds and scoring 10 points. Taj McWilliams-Franklin also added 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in the third consecutive victory for the Lynx.
Diana Taurasi led Phoenix with 19 points on 4 for 8 shooting from three-point range, grabbed five rebounds and blocked four difficult shots of their conference rivals. Marie Ferdinand-Harris posted 15 points off the bench and DeWanna Bonner registered all of her 14 points in the first half of the game. Candice Dupree racked up 10 points and pulled down six rebounds in the second straight loss for Mercury.
Phoenix played without their second-leading scorer Penny Taylor for the fifth time in their previous six games of this season. Taylor is under day-to-day observation now days with a sprained ankle. The player was averaging 16.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game prior to her injury.
Minnesota shot 56.1 percent (37 for 66) from the field, including 70 percent (7 for 10) from three-point range, and 88.2 percent (15 for 17) from free throw line. Mercury shot only 45.1 percent (32 for 71) from the floor, including 51.7 percent (15 for 29) beyond the arc, and 91.7 percent (11 for 12) from the line. The Lynx outplayed the hosts in points in the paint 44-26.
Phoenix started well and held a 25-24 lead after the first quarter, behind a 12-point effort from Bonner.
Minnesota went ahead early in the second quarter and carried a 32-29 lead. Ferdinand-Harris scored the next five points of the quarter to put Mercury ahead by 34-32 and after both teams went cold for close to five and half minutes, Augustus ' jumper at 01:33 gave Minnesota a 47-43 lead. Thomas responded with a jumper and trimmed the Lynx’s lead to two, 47-45. Moore hit a shot from downtown and Augustus hit another floating jumper in the last 42 seconds of the first half as Minnesota held a 52-45 lead at halftime.
Lynx lead quickly ballooned to 10, 64-54, after Augustus hit a jumper at 06:13 in the third quarter. Phoenix did manage to cut their deficit to seven, 68-61, but Minnesota closed the quarter on an 11-2 run and carried a 79-63 lead into the last quarter.
Minnesota maintained their lead throughout the fourth quarter and closed the regular season on a 27-7 record.
Lynx have earned a home-court advantage in the playoffs and they will face the San Antonio Silver Stars in the Western Conference semi-finals. It is Minnesota’s first playoff appearance since being swept by Seattle in the first round in 2004. Going into the post season, Minnesota is in a strong position as they won all four meetings with San Antonio during the regular season.
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