Lynx Notes

• After a Kia Nurse three put the Liberty up 70-66 with 1:39 left, the Lynx went on a 12-2 run while scoring on their final five possessions to finish off the 78-72 victory. After Minnesota started the game 2-of-16 from deep, they made their last two treys during that stretch.
• Maya Moore hit a three-pointer with 19.5 seconds left to give the Lynx a 74-72 lead and Minnesota hit four free throws to give the Lynx the lead. Moore finished with a season-high 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting and seven rebounds and three assists.
• Seimone Augustus led the way for the Lynx as she scored a game-high 21 points on an efficient 9-of-14 shooting in 26:38 minutes of action. Tonight was Augustus’ 109th career 20+ point effort and first since Sept. 11, 2016. Over the last five seasons (2014-18), the Lynx are 13-0 when she scores 20+ points.
• Sylvia Fowles recorded her third straight double-double to start the 2018 season (130th career) as she scored 15 points on 3-of-5 from field while going 9-of-12 from the line and 11 rebounds.
• Danielle Robinson cracked double-figures for the first time in the Lynx uniform as she finished with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting to go along with five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Tonight was Robinson’s 12th career 10+ point/5+ rebound/5+ assist game while also registering a team-high +15 in a season-high 21:18 minutes.
• Minnesota outrebounded the Liberty 44-34 tonight led by Fowles’ 11 boards, Rebekkah Brunson’s nine and Moore’s seven. Over first three games to start the season, the Lynx have outrebounded their opponents 135-92.
• The Lynx travel to play the Washington Mystics on Sunday, May 27. Tip is set for 2:00 p.m. CT. The game can be heard on BOB 106 FM and can be seen on WNBA League Pass.

Liberty Notes

• Tina Charles registered her first double-double of the season as she finished with a team-high 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting and 12 rebounds.
• Nurse finished with 14 points and five rebounds in 34:02 of action off the bench.

Postgame Quotes

MINNESOTA COACH

On the Win… “Hard fought. The identity of this team is grinding out hard games on the road. We needed that. It could have gone one direction or the other. Getting key stops, that’s how you win on the road. Five minutes to go in the game, we have a chance to win the game, so we gut it out, and that’s what it took. And obviously Maya Moore with that shot. Her legs were fresh. We made sure to sit her for a long time, so her legs were fresh and she could launch that thing.”

On why Maya sat from five-minute mark until about a minute to go: “Yeah, I thought she was awful. She didn’t have legs, she didn’t look good, and just through the years, you learn about your players. I probably sat her longer than what I ordinarily would, but when you feel momentum you have to ride it. It was hard to resist putting her in, because it’s Maya Moore. We waited for exactly the right time.”

On Augustus taking over when Moore’s out of the lineup… “She was understanding how she was feeling. She was really locked in on the opportunities she was getting, knowing that Tina wasn’t guarding Brunson. So Brunson setting Seimone screens, she knew that coming off the screens she would be open and she got a number of shots like that. So I think she realized to get to her sweet spot with the pullup jumper. Huge three in the corner out of the timeout. Sylvia set a great screen for her and D-Rob got her the ball. Huge 3 for us, obviously as it cut it to 1. Seimone just has a mindset that she needs to score, so anytime Seimone and Maya are getting 20 a piece that’s usually good for our team.” On going head-to-head with mentor Katie Smith… “Once the game started, I tried not to think about that. You just get so locked in to your team. I suspect she wasn’t thinking about anything on our end. A couple times we got close to each other at half court and I wanted to say something, but no I got to stay focused. It’s fun. It’s fun to see a former player. It’s great to see a woman getting an opportunity, leading a team like the NY Liberty, so I am really proud of her.”

On Katie Smith headed to the Hall of Fame, and their time together… “The great ones have something a little extra, and Katie Smith is in that category. There’s a passion inside of her for the game of basketball. The way she played, she was a fierce competitor, and hated to lose. She hates to lose! You should have seen that handshake. We are both the same, we hate to lose. You just don’t want to hear great game in that moment. I think it’s stupid that we shake hands. The way the NBA does it, with the wave, I prefer that. She’s just an absolute competitor. That’s why she’s a gold medalist, WNBA Champion. All the things she’s accomplished, she’s very deserving of being in the hall of fame.”

MINNESOTA PLAYERS

Moore on fourth quarter production… “I never want to be not effective for my team, but I wasn’t being tough enough to play at that moment. In the WNBA everyone is talented, and you have to be all out every minute. So as a head coach who is going to go down as one of the best head coaches, she took me out. It ended up working out, when I came back in I was ready to go. I stayed engaged, I didn’t pout although I was mad at myself for not being able to be in there.”

Maya on fourth quarter clutch three-pointer… “That was plan “C”, that’s all I’ll say. It was the feel I didn’t have a predetermined move or shot. I’m just grateful that the shot went in.”

Sylvia Fowles on playing in new arena for Liberty… “I don’t know how New York feels about playing here, but it’s a good atmosphere. It feels like the fans are right on top of you. They made a lot of noise, they had a full crowd tonight for the opener. I feel it’s a great place to start. As women we are making progress in the world, and if we have to take a step back to go forward; sometimes that’s what it takes.”

On players stepping up late… “It’s just a mentality. We’re a very veteran team everyone knows when they’re supposed to step up and in what moment, we try to not do too much to step out of our element to make it bad on our behalf, but it was Seimone’s time to shine, then Maya came right behind her, and Tanisha came in the game and gave us some quality minutes so, everyone stepped up at the right time.”

NEW YORK COACH

On tonight’s game… “I think we got some pretty good shots. Even with Kia Nurse she shot with confidence. We definitely moved the ball better. We had an improvement on defense and offense. We will get better and they definitely played extremely hard.”

Playing at the Westchester County Center… “It was a blast! Great Energy and very intimate! It’s a very cozy place that is great for basketball, great place for us to play and I hope the fans had a good time as well.”

On tonight’s defense… “I thought our defense was pretty solid. We can keep getting better in all aspects. We’re going to continue to learn and to grow as a team. But I was really impressed with tonight’s performance.”

On Kia Nurse… “Honestly she’s an energy player. She doesn’t mind mixing it up with offense or defense. She’s not scared of the moment. I know her mentality, whenever she’s called on I know she’s ready to go!”

On support from front office personnel and league… “This is a very great franchise and it’s been like that since the beginning. You have loyal fans. The ownership has always had our backs. They’re a major part of what we do. They make sure we have everything we need so we can have success on the floor and it goes for all areas. The excitement from being here and having them here to watch us play was amazing. Even though it was a loss, we’re still going in the right direction and I can’t wait for us to lace up again on Tuesday.”

NEW YORK PLAYERS

Charles on Moore’s game-winner… “I’m never surprised when Maya let’s it go. There are more chances of her making it than missing it, especially with the game on the line. That’s her time. Again, it was great defense, there are other things that led to that opportunity that we shouldn’t have even let them have that opportunity or think it was a game for them.”

Charles on playing in Westchester… “We are very thankful and grateful for those individuals from the city that commute out. You know my father is from Brooklyn and he came out, my mother is in Long Island and she came out. We are very thankful for the commitment for our season ticket holders and just what the NY Liberty management was able to do to make it as close to the same atmosphere and feel as Madison Square Garden.”

Nurse on Moore’s game winner… “I think Maya hit a tough shot and it was great defense by Z [Shavonte Zellous]. That’s something she does on a daily basis and just being clutch in that moment so obviously it was a battle, but she hit a tough shot.”

Nurse on transitioning from coming off the bench to being a starter… “Personally, I see myself doing whatever role the team needs me to do. When I came here and got drafted I had the opportunity to play anywhere. This was a great fit for me and a place I really wanted to be with the great vets that I get to learn from and great coaching staff as well. So, if my role is to come off the bench and play some defense than I am all for it.”

Nurse on the depth of the Liberty… “I think with our team and what we have, our individual skill sets, then what we do collectively we can be a tough match up for anybody. Obviously, this was a very good battle and a good transition from our game against Chicago and it can only go up from here.”

Zellous on the fans in Westchester… “We’re excited that the fans came out to support us for the home opener. We just hope they continue to support us throughout the season.”