Short-Handed Lynx Get Huge Win Over The Silver Stars

By Lisa Steele: SPM MN Writer
Posted Saturday, July 26, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Lynx seem to know how to win against the San Antonio Silver Stars, as they beat them for the third time in four meetings this season on Friday at the Target Center, 78-68 .

Playing without two of their key rookies off the bench, Candice Wiggins and Charde Houston, the Lynx managed to get a much-needed win over the Western Conference-leading Silver Stars.

Wiggins was injured early in the first quarter of the Lynx's overtime win over Indiana on Thursday, and was diagnosed with a lower back contusion. Houston was injured in the same game during the overtime period and was diagnosed with a bruised left knee. Both are listed as day-to-day and are unlikely to see any action until after the Olympic break.

Leading the way for the Lynx was 2008 Olympian Seimone Augustus, with 20 points. Point guard Lindsey Harding made her second start of the season and added a season-high 13 points on 4-6 shooting from the field, including 4-4 from the free-throw line.

With the Lynx playing with a short bench, their remaining players still managed to come up big as they outscored the Silver Stars' bench, 20-4.

"It's a great win when you lose your second-leading scorer and your energy player off the bench and find a way to come home and beat one of the best teams in the West," Lynx head coach Don Zierden said.

The Lynx players knew what they had to do in Friday's game. They got everyone involved, stuck to their game plan, made timely shots and fed off the energy from the 7,247 fans at the Target Center.

The lead seemed to be on the Lynx side for good after guard Anna DeForge sank two key 3-pointers towards the end of the third quarter to give the Lynx a 60-52 lead from which they never looked back. DeForge ended with 12 points.

"They are a good team, and I think they did a good job coming out [of a] back-to-back and staying focused tonight," Silver Stars forward Sophia Young said. "We didn't do a good job of staying mentally tough, and we made a lot of mental mistakes and we didn't play though fatigue -- and they did."

Young led the Silver Stars in scoring with a game-high 21 points. Becky Hammon added 18, followed by Ann Wauters with 15.

The Lynx (13-12) are currently in a tie with the Houston Comets for fifth place in the West, and only a half-game out of that all important fourth/playoff spot, currently held by the LA Sparks (14-12).

The Lynx will face the Sparks next, on July 27th, in their final game before the Olympic break. The time off is much-needed by Minnesota's injured rookies. The Sparks have three players of their own who will be joining Augustus on the Olympic Team in Beijing; Lisa Leslie, who is going for her fourth gold medal, 10-year league veteran Delisha Milton-Jones, and #1 draft pick Candace Parker.

Up next for the Silver Stars (17-9) will be a trip to Detroit to take on the Eastern Conference leading Shock, also on July 27th.