MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Napheesa Collier led the game with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Natisha Hiedman matched her with another 18 points, helping the Minnesota Lynx defeat the Phoenix Mercury 88-65 on Tuesday evening, marking their second series win in just five days.
The Lynx have started their fourth season in franchise history with an impressive 8-0 record, matching the total wins of all other WNBA teams combined.
After trailing 23-14 with 44.5 seconds remaining in the first quarter, the Lynx dominated the Mercury with a 49-23 run to establish a 63-46 lead with 2:41 left in the third quarter.
A 9-0 run in the fourth quarter featured a three-point play from Bridget Carlton and Kayla McBride, followed by back-to-back three-pointers from Collier, pushing the score to 80-56.
McBride, Alanna Smith, and Karlie Samuelson each contributed to the Lynx’s success, with three 3-pointers out of a total of 12. Smith and McBride both added 13 points, with McBride also recording a team-high 7 assists. The Lynx finished the game with a season-high 29 assists on 34 field goals, significantly outpacing the Mercury.
On the Phoenix side, Lexi Held scored 16 points, while Satou Sabally contributed 15 points and 8 rebounds. Kitty Jaraksa added 10 points to the tally.
Sabally kicked off the second half by scoring the first point, leaving 6:56 in the fourth quarter.
The Lynx also claimed victory against the Mercury on Friday, finishing 74-71, despite Collier dealing with a lingering knee injury.
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Source: apnews.com