Lynx could not keep Fever down

BY MIKE PEDEN

Lynx center Nicky Anosike got a career-high 16 rebounds in Thursday night's game against the Indiana Fever, also picking up 14 points.

After losing to the Indiana Fever 91-81 at Target Center, Anosike thought little of setting a new Lynx record for most rebounds in a single game.

"We don't have a backup plan, so if our shot's not falling, count it as a loss," she said.

As usual, the Lynx (11-12) trailed early and spent most of the first half chasing a Fever lead that grew to 11 early in the first quarter.

The Lynx cut the lead to two at halftime, then scored 30 points in the third to take a three-point lead.

The Lynx could not get their shots to fall in the fourth, making just five of 19 from the floor. Indiana (18-5) made 10 of 14 field goals in the quarter, allowing them to make an 18-1 scoring run.

The run erased a 70-64 Lynx lead early in the fourth and erased the chance for the Lynx to return to the .500 mark at home.

"Charde Houston came out and gave them a big lift. Wiggins was putting her head down and getting us in foul trouble," said Fever forward Ebony Hoffman. "We had to start doing the same to them and hopefully the refs were going to call something."

Hoffman drew some fouls in the fourth, making all seven of her free throws in the quarter. When the buzzer sounded, Hoffman scored half of her season-high 24 points in the last stanza.

Hoffman added 10 rebounds for a double-double.

The Lynx fell to 6-8 at Target Center on the eve of a four-game road trip. The Lynx are 5-4 on the road this season.

"Hopefully we know our back's against the wall and play like our back is against the wall," said Lynx head coach Jennifer Gillom.

Gillom acknowledged Indiana's clutch shooting at the end, but pointed to the Lynx's scoring drought in the fourth as the key factor in the loss. During the Fever's run, the Lynx went scoreless for 5:26.

"When you don't score and then the other team scores, it kind of frustrates you," she said.

Lynx fans did see a sign that their top player is returning to last year's form. Guard Candice Wiggins lead the team in scoring with 23 points. She nailed a three-pointer as the shot clock was about to expire and scored a behind-the-back layup in the third.

"It was a struggle this season for lots of different reasons," she said. "Today's game was a really good step forward."

Despite the loss, the Lynx remained in third place in the Western Conference, one game ahead of San Antonio and 1.5 games ahead of Los Angeles in the playoff race.