August 2, 2002
Lynx 75, Mercury 51
Target Center
Recap | Box Score | Postgame Quotes | Photo Gallery

Minnesota halted its four-game losing streak with tonight's victory, winning for just the second time in its last 13 games. It was the Lynx' second consecutive win at Target Center, having downed Utah 70-62 on July 24. Minnesota improves to 6-7 at home this year; they've never posted a winning home record in three previous seasons (8-8 in 1999, 8-8 in 2000, 6-10 in 2001). The Lynx are 8-19 overall, one game behind seventh-place Phoenix in the Western Conference.

The loss was Phoenix' WNBA-record 19th straight on the road, dating to a 56-54 triumph at Seattle on 7/27/01. The Mercury are 0-13 away from America West Arena this season, and will complete their three-game road trip with stops in Detroit (Sunday) and Sacramento (Tuesday). Phoenix has dropped 14 of its last 16 overall since starting the season 7-4, falling to 9-18 on the season. The franchise record for most losses in a year was set last year, when the Mercury went 13-19.

The win allowed the Lynx to avoid a sweep of their three-game season series vs. Phoenix, and was just Minnesota's second win in its last eight meetings with the Mercury. They'd suffered two losses earlier this year at America West, including a 57-45 setback on Monday night which established a club record for fewest points in a game. The Lynx are now 5-8 all-time vs. Phoenix.

Tonight's final 24-point margin equaled Minnesota's biggest win ever (78-54 vs. Utah, 6/14/99; 68-44 vs. Miami, 7/28/00), and was just the Lynx' second double-digit victory of the year (60-46 vs. Portland, June 13). Phoenix has now suffered five losses by 20+ points in 2002, after losing only five 20-point games in its first five WNBA seasons combined.

The Lynx finished the night shooting 54.4% from the field, their second-best percentage in club history. Earlier this year they hit 55.6% at Miami (May 28) and 52.5% vs. Portland (July 10). The Lynx set a franchise record by shooting 65.5% (19-for-29) in the second half tonight, eclipsing their previous best of 60.0% set in the second half of an 83-73 win over Utah on 8/11/99.

Minnesota's 75-point performance vs. Phoenix equaled its second-highest total for 2002. Previously, they'd notched an 85-80 OT win vs. Detroit on July 1, and tallied 75 in an OT loss to Utah on Opening Night (May 25). The Mercury finished with 51 points, tying their third-lowest output ever. Phoenix' club-record single-game low of 47 points also came at Target Center (7/3/99).

The Lynx outrebounded Phoenix 31-22, marking the eighth time in 11 games that Minnesota has held the edge. They're outboarding the opposition by an average of 4.2 rpg (31.3-27.1) in that stretch. Eight different Lynx players grabbed at least three rebounds tonight, led by Svetlana Abrosimova's six.

Smith

Lynx center Katie Smith tallied 20 of her game-high 22 points in the second half, setting a franchise single-game mark by shooting 90.0% (9-for-10) from the field on the night. Smith had managed just 3-for-25 shooting in two previous meetings with Phoenix this year, scoring a career-low two points (1-for-15) Monday at America West.

Tonight's announced attendance of 12,544 ranks as the third-biggest crowd in Lynx history (14,171 vs. Orlando, 8/20/99; 12,690 vs. Charlotte, 7/31/99). Minnesota has had 11,000+ on hand four times this season, including a crowd of 12,108 for the July 10 matinee game vs. Portland.