Liberty-Lynx preview
Two of the top teams in the WNBA will meet for the second time this season when the New York Liberty visits the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday at Target Center in Minneapolis. Minnesota (13-2) is coming off back-to-back losses after winning 13 in a row to set a WNBA record for most consecutive victories to start a season. The losses dropped the Lynx to second in the WNBA's Western Conference, a half-game behind Los Angeles (13-1). Minnesota suffered a 94-76 loss to Los Angeles on Friday and an 87-63 loss to Washington on Sunday. The Lynx never recovered after being outscored 33-13 in the first quarter against Washington. Renee Montgomery scored 15 points and Sylvia Fowles had 13. Maya Moore, one of the league's stars, was held to five points on 2-of-9 shooting from the field, and Seimone Augustus was held scoreless for the first time in her illustrious career. Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve was not pleased with her team's performance. "We were down 20 in the first quarter, if I'm not mistaken, let alone the first half," Reeve said. ""What I shared with the team was not something I'd be able to tell you, to be honest with you." New York (10-5) is coming off a 104-97 overtime loss to Phoenix after winning six in a row. The Liberty sit atop the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games ahead of Atlanta (8-6). Tina Charles had 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the loss to Phoenix but made just 12 of 27 shots from the field. Sugar Rodgers had 23 points and Shavonte Zellous added 13. Minnesota beat New York 79-69 when they met May 31 at Madison Square Garden. Moore led all scorers with 25 points. Charles had 23 points and 11 rebounds for New York. The Lynx shot 49.2 percent from the field in that game while holding the Liberty to 40.4 percent shooting. |