Game 2: Lynx Even Up Series With 83-71 Win






Andrea Allis
Web Editorial Associate
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The Lynx came out hungry for redemption tonight after a Game 1 loss and defeated the Indiana Fever 83-71, leveling the WNBA Finals series 1-1 heading into Game 3.

"We're so glad that we were able to close out this game and get the taste of winning at home back," forward Maya Moore said.

Box Score LYNX BOXSCORE
Lynx vs. Fever
Seimone Augustus had 27 points, and Moore had 23 to lift the Lynx over a tenacious and physical Indiana team that stifled Minnesota's offense in the first half.

After only scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter of Game 1, the Lynx were only able to score 11 points in tonight's first quarter on 26.7 percent shooting. They turned up the energy in the second but still weren't able to overcome the deficit, ending the first half down 33-31. At that point, Tamika Catchings already had 15 points; she finished the night with 27 points and eight rebounds, and Shavonte Zellous added 16 points.

It wasn't until the third quarter that things really started happening offensively for the Lynx, and they posted their most productive period, scoring 29 points, 15 of which came from the hands of Augustus.

"It was more than missed shots," guard Lindsay Whalen said. "We had missed shots, too, but we had turnover after turnover. We were in the right place, we were doing the right things, but we were just off for whatever reason. But after that, once we loosened up and played things got really good for us."

Coach Cheryl Reeve said that the play of Monica Wright off the bench was a big part of the momentum shift during the second half. Though she had only two points, she came in with visible energy and managed five steals for fast break opportunities and easy buckets.

Whalen's Postgame Interview

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"[Wright] changed the game," Reeve said. "We were struggling to score. The game was slow. It was grind-it-out, and she got in there and, from a defensive standpoint, really increased the pressure. Our entire team fed off that and we got up and were in our full-court pressure mode."

Leader of the Pack: Seimone Augustus

After scoring only four points on 2-of-8 shooting in the first half, Seimone Augustus started feeling her jumpshot in the second half, draining 23 of her 27 points after halftime. She also had six rebounds and three steals. In the postseason, Augustus is averaging 21 points per game and has scored more than 20 points in five of Minnesota's seven playoff games.

"Seimone Augustus put us on her back offensively and took over," Wright said. "Despite their physicality and everything, she just prevailed and got it done tonight offensively. I couldn’t be more proud of her."

Highlight of the Game

With 4:45 left in the first half, Monica Wright picked up a steal and drove the ball the length of the court for an easy layup. On the next trip down the floor, Wright grabbed a defensive rebound and got the ball up the floor, leading to a Maya Moore jumper, which brought the Lynx to within two (25-23) and energized fans after a tough first quarter.

The Numbers Game

Minnesota had a 17-2 offensive rebounding advantage, leading them to 24 second-chance points to Indiana's three. ... The Fever shot 48.1 percent compared to the Lynx's 44.6 percent. ... Despite two more offensive possessions, Indiana made 22 fewer field goal attempts than Minnesota; the Fever were 25-of-52, compared to the Lynx's 33-of-74. ... The Lynx forced 24 Fever turnovers while committing 16 of their own. ... Three technical fouls were issued: one to Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve and one to Lindsay Whalen during the third quarter, and one to Fever coach Lin Dunn in the fourth.

Quotable

"We knew that this series was going to be physical; it's not just going to be the next game, it's going to be every game. Every game is going to be a fight like that and we're all mentally prepared to play that way. I don't think that anything is going to get easier for us, especially if we go there. It might even get a little more physical. We're just prepared to counter everything they do." -- Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson

Looking Ahead

The Lynx head to Indiana for Game 3 of this best-of-five series on Friday, Oct. 19. They'll stay in Indiana for Game 4 on Sunday, Oct. 21. Catch both games on ESPN2. If a Game 5 is needed to decide the series, the Lynx will return to Target Center for the final contest on Wednesday, Oct. 24. All games tip off at 7 p.m. Central Time.

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