Fever sweat through nail-biter against Lynx

BY MIKE PEDEN

Minnesota Lynx fans and players may consider this weekend a "teaching moment."

Following a 65-55 loss to Seattle on Friday, the Lynx dropped a close game to the Indiana Fever 78-75 at Target Center Sunday as Indiana's perimeter shooting overpowered Minnesota's inside game.

Although the Lynx (5-3) out-rebounded the Fever (6-3) 39-26 and outscored the Fever in the paint 42-22, the Fever countered with 46 percent field goal shooting and 8-of-18 from three-point range. The Lynx were 41 percent from the floor and 3-of-10 from beyond the arc.

"On the offensive end, it's inside-out. (Tamika Catchings) went to the power forward tonight and created a lot of mismatches," said Indiana guard Katie Douglas.

After Minnesota reeled in a 29-18 Indiana lead with a 17-2 run in the second quarter, neither team led by more than seven for the remainder of the game.

Douglas scored a game-high 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, but a free throw miss following a Maya Moore foul with 18 seconds to go in the fourth left her speechless; the 80 percent career free throw shooter is currently sitting at 67 percent.

Douglas did make the second to give Indiana a 76-73 lead, but they would hold their breath one more time as Douglas fouled Lynx guard Seimone Augustus behind the three-point line on the left corner.

"I knew we had one foul to give, and I was trying to give up the foul," she said.

"Seimone, being the smart player, throws the ball up and they send her to the free throw line," Catchings said.

Augustus missed her first free throw and made her last two, forcing the Lynx to continue playing foul-and-chase.

"After she missed the first one, I was like 'Whew, we got this,' but I was a little nervous," Catchings said.

After Fever reserve Jeanette Pohlen sank two free throws with 5.6 seconds left to push their lead to three, the Lynx had one more chance, but Lindsay Whalen's three-point attempt from the top of the key was wide left as the buzzer sounded.

Catchings added 17 points, playing a pivotal role in the fourth to secure the victory.

Moore tied her career high in scoring with 21 points for Minnesota, but only four came in the second half as foul trouble limited her production. Whalen and Augustus scored 12 and 10 respectively, but the two combined to make just nine of their 28 shot attempts.

"We have to be the mentally tougher team for longer stretches. It's going to take efforts like Jessica Adair did," Moore said.

While back-to-back losses could cause Lynx fans to panic after seeing them squander hot starts in 2008 and 2009, second-year center Adair highlighted the deeper bench opposing teams have raved about when facing the Lynx. Adair proved highly effective in the 8:17 of floor time she played with seven points and six rebounds, five of them offensive.

In fact, Adair scooped one more offensive rebound than rebounding specialist Rebekkah Brunson, despite playing less than a quarter of Brunson's total minutes.

"Rebekkah's arguably the best post player in the league and Taj (McWilliams-Franklin) has been around forever. If I weren't here picking up little things from them, I'd be a fool," Adair said.

Catchings believes Minnesota's bench will make them one of the best teams in the league as the season continues.

"They're a threat at every single position," she said.

WFA Football: Wisconsin Wolves vs. Minnesota Machine

TSB Television concluded its broadcast portion of the 2011 Minnesota Machine season with an epic divisional battle between the Machine and Wisconsin Wolves. Both were fighting for the Upper Midwest Division title and a playoff berth. However, the playoff qualification in the Women's Football Alliance isn't as simple as the NFL. The overall record is irrelevant, and because the Machine owned a better divisional record, the Wolves would have to win by 22 points or more to claim the divisional title by tiebreaker. Although Minnesota had the upper hand, they would need to win without Lisa Olson and Maggie Alt. Olson retired, citing too much stress balancing playing with organizational duties, while Alt suffered a torn meniscus in Minnesota's loss to Iowa.



While our Machine telecasts have come to an end, our involvement with Minnesota's WFA franchise won't stop yet. A 2011 highlight film is in the works, and we guarantee this will put the 2010 version to shame. TSB Television will also have more sports coverage for you in the coming weeks, with Minnesota Lynx video coverage and broadcasts of the Minnesota Jaguars women's semi-pro basketball team!

WFA Football: Iowa Xplosion vs. Minnesota Machine

TSB Television continues its WFA coverage with a border rivalry between the Iowa Xplosion and the Minnesota Machine. Although the two teams no longer compete in the same division following the 2011 realignment, the intensity that marked the 2010 series between the two teams flared up this year. Minnesota is looking to secure the Upper Midwest division title and playoff spot, while Iowa is simply trying to play spoiler following their elimination from the Midwest division race. The Xplosion return all-around threat Jennifer Boling, while the Machine added Hannah Cheese to their running back tandem after a two-game road trip.

To purchase a DVD copy of this and all Machine games this season, send an e-mail to thesportsbrain@gmail.com

Lynx run down Dream

BY MIKE PEDEN

Friday night's game between the Atlanta Dream and Minnesota Lynx at Target Center was considered another part in the season-long test of credibility for Minnesota.

The Lynx had not played for the last seven days following their road win over Seattle, and fans were concerned about team sluggishness. Those worries faded after one half, as Minnesota displayed a convincing second half performance en route to a 96-85 win over Atlanta.

Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Guard Seimone Augustus scored 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor, and guard Lindsay Whalen added 16 points and eight assists in the victory.

Augustus credited a team practice earlier this week against a men's pickup squad for previewing Atlanta's athleticism while keeping Minnesota in shape.

"They went full force at us. They dunked on us. They did everything to make us tougher for this game," she said.

Although the Dream (1-4) never led by more than six, and never saw the lead in the second half, their 22 first-half points in the paint established control through the first half.

"They got a lot of second chance points, and they were able to beat us in the first quarter," Brunson said.

The Lynx (4-1) opened the third quarter on a 15-4 run to break a 39-39 halftime tie and never looked back, no matter how many times the Dream attempted to reel them in.

"Our color is blue, we got to pass to blue. Their color is white and we passed it to white. We're beating ourselves, and it's very frustrating," said Atlanta forward Angel McCoughtry, referring to their 18 turnovers.

"We came out ready," Brunson said. "We had to get some stops, get some rebounds and start to play offense and transition the way we wanted to."

Offense came with little difficulty on the Lynx's fourth straight win, as the team made 52 percent of their field goal attempts.

Perhaps the biggest basket came with 6:16 left in the fourth, when Whalen intercepted a pass and dished to Maya Moore for a fast-break lay-up, electrifying fans and Lynx teammates on the bench at Target Center.

There was one scare in the third, when Augustus took an elbow to her pelvis. Although the bruise benched her for a few minutes, she returned no less worn.

For Atlanta, McCoughtry scored a game-high 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting. Center Erika de Souza finished with a double-double of her own, netting 18 points and 11 rebounds.

The two teams meet for the final time this season on Sunday at Philips Arena in Atlanta. Although Minnesota's third quarter showing was enough to seal the win, Augustus saw the fourth quarter as a teaching moment.

"We got to keep them out of the paint. That's where the majority of their points come from," she said.

Lynx stomp jolt out of Sparks

BY MIKE PEDEN

While the term "must-win" is generally not used in early season games, the Minnesota Lynx faced that scenario against the Los Angeles Sparks Sunday at Target Center.

A win would mean a weekend split and a serenade to the 10,123 fans in attendance for the Lynx's home opener. A loss would put them at 0-2 and start to raise concerns about team chemistry and capability.

The Lynx delivered big-time with an 86-69 win, snapping their eight-game losing streak against the Sparks while giving Sparks head coach Jennifer Gillom her first loss against the team she helmed at the start of her head coaching career.

Seimone Augustus, who scored a game high 17 points, was eager for payback following Friday's 82-74 loss at Staples Center.

"I didn't even sleep, I didn't eat," she said. "Today was a start. We did a solid job running the offense and getting the ball where we needed to."

Augustus was one of six Lynx (1-1) players to finish in double-figures for scoring. Others included Rebekkah Brunson, who recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 15 rebounds.

"We didn't fall apart or doubt ourselves," she said.

Rookie guard Maya Moore added 16, with 14 in the second half. Although she struggled to find the basket in the first half, she brought Lynx fans to their feet by blocking a three-point shot from Tina Thompson.

Her second highlight came with 6:21 remaining in fourth quarter, when she pump-faked Candace Parker and drained a mid-range jumper.

"(She is) a really tough match-up. Our posts did a good job of trying to make it tough on her," Moore said.

Although Moore has been the face of Minnesota's marketing campaign, she quickly praised the team's unselfishness on the court.

"We all really care about making sure we work well together. That's why this game is so fun," she said.

Good ball control and rebounding meant the Lynx never flirted with disaster after building a lead as large as 23. Minnesota recorded 17 assists and committed 12 turnovers to Los Angeles' 16 and 17, respectively. The Lynx scooped 44 rebounds, with 15 on offense. The Sparks (1-1) finished with just 28 rebounds and five offensive boards.

Los Angeles lost their rhythm in the second half, with Minnesota outscoring them 24-10 in the third quarter. Their leading scorer was Kristi Toliver, who scored 13 points despite playing 10:35 for the game. Parker and Thompson added 11.

The Sparks' fortune could be murky in the short-term, as 14-year veteran Ticha Penicheiro left the game in the third with an ankle injury. An MRI is scheduled Monday.

Minnesota hosts Tulsa on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Although the Shock struggled in their season opener Saturday against the San Antonio Silver Stars, the Shock beat the Lynx twice last season and could return to play the spoiler role.

"We have to keep that mindset of people trying to take it away from us," Moore said.

"We're starting to settle in our offense, settle in our defense. The future's bright," Augustus said.

ALSO

Mike Peden gets a few words with Los Angeles Sparks veteran DeLisha Milton-Jones, who reflects on the WNBA's history as the league enters its 15th season. Click play to listen.

Sparks short Lynx for eighth consecutive time

BY MIKE PEDEN

Despite all the hype that surrounded the Minnesota Lynx following the WNBA Draft, when they selected Maya Moore with the first overall pick, the Lynx learned Friday night that their roster is still vulnerable.

Opening the season on the road against the Los Angeles Sparks at Staples Center, the Lynx squandered a 10-point lead in the third quarter, losing 82-74.

Going back to last season, the Lynx (0-1) have lost 10 games after leading by 10 points or more. Minnesota also continued its losing streak against Los Angeles (1-0), now losing their last eight games, with Los Angeles head coach Jennifer Gillom winning five against the team she commandeered when her head coaching career began in 2009.

Candace Parker had a sensational return for the Sparks after missing most of last season with a dislocated shoulder. Parker finished with a double-double, getting 19 points and 10 rebounds, including a driving lay-up with 1:09 left in the game that ultimately clinched a Sparks win. Tina Thompson added 15 points.

The Lynx had a 50-40 lead with 6:43 the third quarter following a Moore three-pointer, but the Sparks found their stroke behind the arc 16 seconds later.

Sparks guard Kristi Toliver ignited the perimeter offense before Noelle Quinn and rookie Jenna O'Hea assumed control, sinking six combined three-pointers in the second half. The Sparks led 59-57 to end the third quarter and did not trail after that, out-shooting the Lynx 47 percent to 41 percent for the game.

However, Moore's professional debut was perhaps the biggest story of the night as the WNBA began its 15th season. She scored 21 points on 7-of-17 from the floor, including four three-pointers, silencing any questions on her integration following two shaky preseason games against Indiana.

Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson started the season with a double-double after posting a career-high 12 a year ago, with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The two teams meet again on Sunday when the Lynx host their home opener at Target Center.

WFA Football: Nebraska Stampede vs. Minnesota Machine

TSB Television is continuing its partnership with the Minnesota Machine this season! Check out our coverage of their home game against the Nebraska Stampede at Minnetonka High School's Einer Anderson Stadium! The Machine have two more dates at home scheduled for the regular season: June 11th against the Iowa Xplosion and June 18th against the Wisconsin Wolves. Both games are scheduled at 7:00 p.m at Einer Anderson Stadium.

Learn more by visiting the Machine's website, and send an e-mail to thesportsbrain@gmail.com to purchase a DVD copy of this and future Minnesota Machine games.