Shock check out on Lynx

BY MIKE PEDEN

Editors note - pictures from this game are in a slide show following this story.

6,822 fans filed in to Target Center to watch the Minnesota Lynx face the Tulsa Shock Sunday night, the only team the Lynx have defeated in the early portion of the season.

The Lynx can still claim that stat, but they also became the first team to lose to them since the Shock relocated from Detroit with a 94-82 loss, extending their losing streak to three games.

The Shock (1-2) hammered the Lynx (1-3) inside with 48 points in the paint and outscored Minnesota 30-6 in fast break points. The Shock pounced on sloppy ball control with the Lynx committing a season-high 23 turnovers, and responded with quick baskets after the Lynx would score and not get their defense set in time.

"(The Lynx) come to trap, so we knew that we'd find somebody open and we knocked down shots," said forward Plenette Pierson, who scored 14 points off the bench.

Chante Black was the primary reason for the Shock's inside success, snagging 17 rebounds and 6 blocks with 10 points for good measure.

"My teammates all encouraged me to be aggressive and go after the boards hard," she said.

The Lynx's shorthanded roster was very apparent as well. Starting forward Hamchetou Maïga-Ba appeared exhausted at times as the Shock ran the full-court press all game, dubbed "40 Minutes of Hell" by head coach Nolan Richardson. The Lynx reserves only mustered 11 points while The Shock bench accounted for more than half of the team's point total, racking up 52.

"That's what we're known for. Sharing the ball and being unpredictable," Black said.

Lynx forward Chardé Houston said the Shock's pressure defense was no surprise after the two teams met in the season opener. The difference was the Lynx getting flustered after they trailed early and often; the Lynx did not hold the lead at any point for the first time this season.

"If you get flustered, and they see it in your eyes, they're going to attack you even more," she said.

Houston led the Lynx in scoring for the third time in four games with 23 points. Guard Lindsay Whalen added 16, which included a perfect 12-12 from the free throw line.

Those numbers were little consolation for a team that started the year with high hopes and expectations.

"We have to look within ourselves and hold ourselves accountable. We have to end the losing streak now," Houston said.

The pictures in this slide show were taken by Abe Booker III of Stratman Photography.