Seimone Augustus shines as Minnesota Lynx defeat Atlanta Dream 77-64 – WNBA Game Recap
Seimone Augustus scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed six rebounds as the Minnesota Lynx cruised past Atlanta Dream 77-64 on Sunday night at Philips Arena, stretching their winning streak to five game.
The 27-year-old guard-forward, who had a team-high 25 points in Friday’s 96-85 victory over the Dream, was 7-of 13 from the field and scored a three on the night.
Lindsay Whalen punctuated 13 points and five assists while rookie Maya Moore chipped in with 12 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota, who held the host team to only 30 percent shooting from the field. This is third time during
the season that Lynx have limited their rivals to below 40 percent from the field.
Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve praised that defensive play of her team and said, "Its defence," "On the road we have to bring our defence. We put it on them. We talk about punching the other team in the mouth. When you play good
defence it makes it easier on the road."
Rebekkah Brunson with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals for Minnesota, who have not lost any game after their only defeat in the season opener.
Lindsey Harding headed Atlanta with a season-high 14 points, three assists and three rebounds. However, Harding’s shooting from the field was very poor as she ended on 3-for-14. Erika DeSouza, Angel McCoughtry, and Coco Miller
added 10 points each in the losing effort. DeSouza also grabbed 12 rebounds and four blocks.
McCoughtry, who is averaging 16.5 points per game this season, could not find her rhythm this time and shot just 2 for 13 from the field. Taj McWilliams-Franklin clinched a season-high 12 rebounds for Lynx.
Like previous five games of this season, Minnesota got off to a terrific start outscored the opponent team in the first quarter. Lynx were in the zone early and they tore apart the Atlanta defence to take a 19-5 lead with 03:03
to go in the opening period. Charde Houston then scored five of her total seven points as Minnesota took a 26-10 lead into the second period.
Dream picked up the pace in the second quarter and by the time, the teams headed to the locker rooms, they slashed the deficit to 12. However, Minnesota started the second half just like they did the first. Augustus Brunson and
Moore launched a procession of layups, jumper and three point daggers as Lynx raced to a 58-35 lead with 4:41 to go in the third. Three Atlanta free throws later in the ensuing passage nipped the surge but Minnesota took a 66-45 lead into the final frame.
Trailing by 21 points after three, the Dream turned it on in the fourth quarter and cut the deficit to 12 points, 66-54, early. However, Minnesota then went on a 9-1 run to widen their lead to 20 points, 75-55, with 04:52 to go
in the game. Dream, on the other hand, responded with six unanswered points to trim the margin to 14 points but the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft Moore launched a running lay-up with two minutes remaining to make it 77-61 for the Lynx. Atlanta scored three
points in the last 30 second and the game ended at 77-64.
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