Lynx-Silver Stars Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Aug 27 2011 6:29PM

The WNBA-leading Minnesota Lynx are on the verge of locking up the top spot in the Western Conference.

Looking to secure home-court advantage through the two-round conference playoffs, the Lynx seek a four-game sweep of the San Antonio Silver Stars and a sixth straight win in the series in the conclusion of a home-and-home set Sunday.

Minnesota (22-6) defeated slumping San Antonio 85-75 on Friday, putting it in position to end the conference title race with a win or a Mercury loss to Washington.

"This team's on a mission," said coach Cheryl Reeve, whose club has won four straight and 15 of 17.

Seimone Augustus scored 19 points while rookie star Maya Moore had 18 and seven rebounds as Minnesota stayed perfect in three meetings with the Silver Stars (13-14) this season.

"They have a lot of great players that can even come off the bench, so they're really deep," said San Antonio guard Danielle Robinson, who had 11 points. "They all played aggressive tonight. We just have to go home and re-evaluate and we see them again so we're just looking forward to being back at home."

Minnesota outrebounded the Silver Stars 37-23 and 14-6 on the offensive glass. The Lynx were up by four after three quarters but led by as many as 20 in the fourth in dealing San Antonio a season-high fifth straight loss.

"There's a lot of things that triggered it," Moore said. "Offensive rebounds. Getting out in transition. Team defense. Trying to make it hard for their main scorers to get going. All of that really just fueled that buildup until the dam just burst and we were able to really just pile on some points."

Becky Hammon, who leads the Silver Stars with 15.5 points per game, failed to score and went 0 of 8 from the floor. She has scored six or fewer points in three of four contests.

With Hammon struggling, San Antonio has averaged 69.4 points during its skid - 8.0 less than its season mark.

The Silver Stars did welcome back second-leading scorer Danielle Adams on Friday and could get an offensive boost from her down the stretch. Adams, averaging 14.0 points, scored 10 in her first action since missing 11 games with a sprained right foot.

"I just felt that my foot was getting better and just wanted to get out there and help my team out," Adams said.

While this matchup sets up as a possible playoff preview, San Antonio still has work to do as it looks to hold off Los Angeles for the final postseason spot. The Silver Stars are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Sparks.

Lynx 72, Silver Stars 61

Posted Aug 28 2011 6:48PM

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Maya Moore has brought her winning ways from UConn to the Minnesota Lynx.

Seimone Augustus scored 20 points and Moore had 19 points and 12 rebounds as the Lynx clinched the top seed in the Western Conference with a 72-61 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Sunday

Minnesota (23-6) has won five straight games and swept the season series against San Antonio. It's the first time in franchise history that the Lynx have earned the top seed in the West.

``It's just a blessing to be on this team,'' said Moore, who went 150-4 with two national championships in her four years with the Huskies before coming to a Minnesota team that won just 13 games last year. ``All of us have a really special situation, so I'm just excited to play well because we still have a lot of work to do.''

The Lynx didn't score for nearly 5 minutes to start the fourth quarter, but the Silver Stars failed to take advantage. Moore scored eight points, hitting two 3-pointers, in the quarter to make sure Minnesota was never threatened.

``Just her maturity, people expect a lot from her,'' Augustus said of her rookie teammate. ``She spoiled everyone with what she did in college, and she's come in and been everything that we've needed.''

Roneeka Hodges led San Antonio (13-15) with 12 points, hitting 4 of 8 3-pointers. Jia Perkins and Tully Bevilaqua added 10 each for the Silver Stars, who have lost six straight.

San Antonio has lost 10 of its last 12 while the Lynx have won 10. The Silver Stars started the season 5-1 but are now only one game up on Los Angeles for the West's fourth and final playoff spot.

``I mean, big-picture situation, our season is to be determined,'' Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said. ``They have ownership in that. It's not an easy thing. You're fighting some momentum that's going the other way. The only way you make a change is by yourself and taking ownership of it and going forward.''

Minnesota held San Antonio to 30 percent shooting (19 of 63) from the field and outrebounded the Silver Stars 50-27. Lindsay Whalen had 10 points and Rebekkah Brunson had a game-high 14 rebounds.

After leading by only two points at halftime, Minnesota held San Antonio to 6-of-30 shooting in the second half to roll to the win. Augustus helped hold Silver Stars leading scorer Becky Hammon to nine points on 1-of-12 shooting from the field. Bevilaqua (4 of 7) was the only San Antonio player to shoot 50 percent or better from the field.

The Silver Stars shot 4 for 15 from the field in the third quarter as Minnesota took a 10-point lead. The Lynx took their biggest lead of the game at 60-47 on Jessica Adair's jumper with 1 minute left, capping a 12-3 run. Bevilaqua hit a 3-pointer shortly before the third quarter ended to make it 60-50.

Augustus scored 16 first-half points on 8-of-12 shooting, as the Lynx shot 18 of 35 in the first two quarters to lead 42-40 at halftime. Minnesota outrebounded San Antonio 21-11 in the first half, but the Silver Stars hit 8 of 15 3-pointers to stay close.

• Lynx: --
• Silver Stars: --

• Lynx: --
• Silver Stars: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
• Officials: #45 Tom Mauer, #9 Denise Brooks, #21 Byron Jarrett
• Attendance: 7924
• Duration: 1:49