Maya Moore scored 10 of her season-high 27 points in the third quarter in a 76-75 win for the Minnesota Lynx over the New York Liberty at Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday evening.
Fresh off being named MVP of the WNBA all-star game on Saturday, Moore backed up the performance by leading the team with 11-of-20 shooting while adding five rebounds and three steals.
It was Moore’s second consecutive game with over 20 points after being held to single digits in two of the three prior games.
“I think as a team we are growing, which is good,” Moore said. “When our team grows, the great players on this team grow.”
The Lynx appeared to have some control of the game, as a basket from Lindsay Whalen gave them a 74-66 lead with 5:33 remaining in the game.
Over the next 4:46, New York went on an 8-0 run to tie the game. Minnesota went 0-for-7 shooting with two turnovers during that span.
“They had some good defense and we had some stalled possessions,” Whalen said. “We still got the win, so we’re happy about that, but we can do better in our next game.”
“We were fortunate to win,” head coach Cheryl Reeve added. “A trademark of this team is finding a way to win.”
It was a leaning jumper off a double-clutch from Whalen along the left baseline with 47 seconds left that would put Minnesota back in front for good.
“Just like we drew it up,” Reeve said jokingly of Whalen’s shot. “We got a little bit crossed up because we wanted to take the ball out on the other side of the court. It was designed for Whalen to drive the baseline. I guess she got cut off and she made lemonade.”
“I wanted to turn the corner a bit more, but Kiah Stokes played it pretty well,” Whalen said. “I was able to lean in and finish. It’s always good when shots like that go in.”
Whalen scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, it was her first game in double figures since June 30.
The Liberty ended up with the final shot, but Sugar Rodgers was not able to hit the 3-pointer in the final seconds.
Despite not having an answer for Tina Charles as Rebekkah Brunson only played a few minutes before picking up two fouls, the Lynx managed to lead 22-20 after the first quarter.
Charles scored 14 of her team-high 24 points in the opening frame. She added six rebounds in the quarter and made 5-of-7 field goal attempts.
After a 20-point first half, Charles only managed four points in the second half and finished with a game-high 16 rebounds.
Despite having zero points on 0-of-7 shooting, both Reeve and Whalen credited Brunson for her defensive effort on Charles.
“It seems to me like both teams got together and decided they weren’t going to throw it to their big girls anymore,” Reeve joked. “The fact that she didn’t get the shot at the end was a huge tip of the cap to Brunson.”
“She was so tenacious,” Whalen said of Brunson. “She does so many things for us. Tonight she drew the job of guarding Tina Charles.”
Minnesota held a 45-37 lead at halftime.
The third quarter was back-and-forth, but the Lynx never lost their lead. New York trimmed the lead to just one point at 51-50 with 5:36 remaining in the quarter. Moore scored the next eight points for Minnesota out of a timeout and helped hold a 64-61 lead heading into the final frame.
“She had a nice stretch there in the third quarter,” Reeve said of Moore. “She got out in and transition and hit a couple daggers. It was a typical Maya game.”
“I tried to play off my defense,” Moore added. “I got a couple of steals and a couple of deflections and I tried to play off that.”
With four blocks on the night, Sylvia Fowles moved over the 500 block milestone in her career.
Fowles added 18 points and nine rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting.
Plenette Pierson led Minnesota’s bench with seven points, five rebounds and three assists in 17:15 of play.
Up next: Minnesota (17-2) will hit the road to play the Atlanta Dream at 6:30 Friday.
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