Minnesota Outshoots, Outrebounds Indiana in 81-65 Decision
MINNEAPOLIS – Sylvia Fowles and Rebekkah Brunson led five players in double figures as the Minnesota Lynx kept pace for the best record in the WNBA, beating the Indiana Fever 81-65 at Target Center.
Fowles and Brunson both nearly tallied double-doubles in the first half alone, accenting a 22-13 rebounding margin at intermission. Fowles finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Brunson added 14 and 11.
Renee Montgomery scored 13 points for the Lynx who shot 53 percent for the game. Anna Cruz added 12 and Maya Moore contributed 11.
Indiana, which never threatened after a back-and-forth first quarter, was led by Marissa Coleman’s 14 points. Tamika Catchings added 10 points and nine rebounds.
Photo Gallery: Fever 65, Lynx 81 >>
Teammates on recent U.S. Olympic teams, Catchings commented on Fowles’ dominance: “She got on the boards. She got her open looks. She’s tough to stop when she gets on a roll.”
The Lynx delighted an audience of 9,034 with their second straight win while sending the Fever to their fourth loss in five games. The Lynx, whose 21 wins match New York with the most in the WNBA, extended their regular season win streak over Indiana to nine games, dating to 2011.
A three-point play by Moore capped a 7-0 scoring streak for Minnesota to begin the second half and the Lynx never looked back, enjoying its largest lead, then at 50-34.
The Fever trailed 64-40 after three quarters and outscored the home team 13-7 to begin the final stanza, creeping within 67-59 on a jumper from Shenise Johnson. But Indiana never got closer.
“Minnesota is one of the premier teams in the league,” said first-year Fever coach Stephanie White. “They execute offensively and do all the little things that matter. They have great discipline. Defensively, they pressure you and then you add Fowles to the mix and it’s no wonder they are exceptional.”
The Fever was held scoreless for a 3:39 stretch in the second quarter which produced an 8-0 Minnesota run to separate the clubs after a nip-and-tuck first quarter. Indiana led for just 5.8 seconds of the game, 20-19, after a free throw by Natasha Howard broke one of three first-quarter ties with 6.6 seconds left in the first period. But Montgomery’s 3-point heave with 0.8 seconds left beat the buzzer and the Lynx never trailed thereafter.
Both teams played without their starting point guards. Minnesota’s Lindsay Whalen and Indiana’s Briann January both are hoping for a return prior to the WNBA Playoffs which begin Sept. 17.
The Fever, battling for playoff position in the Eastern Conference, travel to New York on Tuesday and Atlanta on Friday, prior to closing the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 13 against East frontrunner New York.
September 4, 2015 – The Indiana Fever were led by Marissa Coleman with 16 points, but fell 81-65 to the Lynx.