Lynx score "Dream" victory

BY MIKE PEDEN

Screaming kids made up most of the 12,311 fans who attended Wednesday's matinee game between the Minnesota Lynx and the Atlanta Dream at Target Center.

Those kids, who were there for the Lynx's annual "Kiddie Day" for summer camps, were highly vocal after the Lynx won 83-81. Lynx forward Seimone Augustus again led the team in scoring with 22 points while guard Lindsay Whalen added 17 points and seven assists.

"We were so embarrassed when we lost down there and we wanted to return the favor," said Nicky Anosike, who tied a season high with 16 points.

"We feel confident that we can play any team," said Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson. "We didn't play perfect, but we still ended up with a win."

For the first half, the Lynx (7-11) played a team that was far more formidable compared to their first meeting in Atlanta (14-6). Aggressive, smart basketball forced 13 Atlanta turnovers in the first half and two technical fouls in the first quarter, when Dream guard Iziane Castro Marques and Dream center Erika DeSouza both lost their temper early.

However, both fans and the Lynx sensed a Dream run was due, and their theory materialized in the third quarter. The Dream outscored the Lynx 32-16 in the third as Atlanta capitalized on sloppy turnovers and their advantage in the paint.

"They've come back from a lot of big deficits and won games. We knew we couldn't relax for a moment," Brunson said.

Had Atlanta played the Lynx team from the beginning of the season, they might have cruised. Instead, the Lynx fought back and neither team could get more than a four-point lead in the final stanza.

After trading several baskets and bricks, Anosike sank two free throws to tie the game with 38.1 seconds left. On the next Dream possession, DeSouza shot an airball that went out-of-bounds, giving the Lynx the ball with 17.5 seconds to go. On the final Lynx offensive play, Anosike found a wide-open Brunson in the paint, who had no trouble draining the lay-up. Two misses at point-blank range from the Dream in the final seconds sealed the outcome.

"You need to thank coach (Cheryl Reeve) for keeping me out there. You need to thank Nicky for making that pass," Brunson said. "We had some options that we drew up, and that happened to be the most available one."

The Lynx win nullified a solid effort from DeSouza and second-year forward Angel McCoughtry. DeSouza easily earned a double-double with 18 points and 20 rebounds while McCoughtry led all players with 25 points.

After losing nine of their first 11 games, the Lynx have won five of their last seven and appear a solid playoff contender in the Western Conference at the moment. Anosike attributes the recent performance to loosening up personal pressures to do well.

"We're just out there genuinely enjoying what we do," Anosike said.

The Lynx will spend their next five games against Western Conference opponents in what will likely be a key stretch in determining playoff positions. However, Anosike believes more than playoff spots will be on the line.

"I don't think teams around the league respect us," she said. "We've only scratched the surface of earning respect."