Courtney Williams barely missed a triple-double, and the Minnesota Lynx used a late 12-0 run to take Sport 1 of its WNBA semifinal sequence in opposition to the Phoenix Mercury, profitable 82-69 in Minneapolis on Sunday.
Williams scored a game-high 23 factors whereas including eight rebounds, seven assists and 5 steals. Kayla McBride added 21 factors and Napheesa Collier hit for 18 to go together with a game-high 9 rebounds.
Kahleah Copper scored 22 factors for Phoenix however went simply 10-for-23 from the ground. Alyssa Thomas added 18 to go together with eight rebounds and 7 assists. Satou Sabally tallied 10 factors however made solely 3 of 11 photographs.
The Mercury trailed 68-67 after Sami Whitcomb drained a 3-pointer with 5:13 left, however Williams began the game-breaking run with a floater on the subsequent journey. McBride and Bridget Carleton pitched in 3-pointers to seal the result.
“We’re within the playoffs, bro, you have to really feel the vitality,” Williams stated after the sport. “You have to do your finest for the staff.”
Sport 2 of the best-of-5 sequence is Tuesday evening in Minneapolis earlier than the sequence shifts to Phoenix.
Phoenix made its gameplan abundantly clear within the first quarter, attacking within the lane each likelihood it had. The Mercury erased an early 16-12 deficit by carving into it a bucket at a time, taking a 24-22 edge to the second quarter on Thomas’ tip-in with 25.4 seconds left.
Forward 39-38 after Williams drove and scored with 3:39 left within the half, Phoenix rattled off eight straight factors – all on layups – to take a 47-40 result in intermission. It scored a whopping 42 factors within the lane within the half, making only one 3-pointer and two foul photographs.
Minnesota tightened up defensively within the third quarter, not permitting some extent for the primary 2:57 and allowing simply 12 factors within the interval. When McBride sank a technical free throw, it led to a 59-59 tie going to the fourth quarter.
–Area Degree Media
