Sparks drain energy from Lynx

BY MIKE PEDEN

Some fans may suggest the Minnesota Lynx were out of gas against the Los Angeles Sparks Tuesday night after Saturday's double-overtime duel with Phoenix. Other fans may believe the team has not fully gelled.

Whatever the reason, the Lynx fell 71-58 to the Sparks at Target Center as they struggled all game to find a shooting rhythm.

Specifically, the Lynx's field goal percentage was 17% in the first half, a figure they only bumped up to 26% by the game's end.

"We went to the zone and it frustrated them. It was a great team effort, and that's the only way this team can win," said Sparks head coach Jennifer Gillom, in her first visit to Minnesota since September 9th, 2009, when she coached her final home game for the Lynx.

Ironically, after Saturday's free throw shooting was scrutinized for nullifying the Lynx's respectable field goal shooting performance against Phoenix, they made 13 of 17 free throws against the Sparks.

The Los Angeles win gave the Sparks (8-16) their first winning streak of the season and moved them to fourth place in the Western Conference standings, where they currently hold the tiebreaker over fifth-place Minnesota (7-15) by winning the first two games of the series. The Lynx were in second place before going on their current four-game losing streak.

"It's up to us to get these wins. The West is always tight. Sometimes when you can't string wins together, your confidence can get down," said Sparks forward Noelle Quinn.

Monica Wright and Lindsay Whalen were the Lynx top scorers with 12 apiece. Both were doubled up by Sparks center Tina Thompson, who scored 24 points on 10-of-22 shooting and scooped eight rebounds. Quinn kept Los Angeles in the game early and finished with 17 points and eight boards.

On the other end, Lynx forward Seimone Augustus, fresh off a 36-point game against Phoenix, managed just six with only two field goals out of 13 attempts.

"She's the most versatile player in the WNBA. She has every shot you can think of on the court. I don't foresee her having a game like this ever again," Thompson said. "Our guards did a great job playing against her."

The Lynx got off to a quick 11-2 start, but their shooting woes caught up to them as the game wore on. The Sparks held a 29-26 lead at halftime, a margin kept small by committing nine turnovers to the Lynx's one at that point.

"We came out overdoing things, rushing shots a little bit," Thompson said.

The Sparks' big guns proved to be too much in the second half, as Thompson capitalized on open looks the Lynx gave her, while the paint was open for the taking.

"That almost never happens. I welcome it, but I'm pretty sure it won't happen again. Luckily, we took advantage of it," Thompson said.

Although there was little fanfare for the first return of Gillom with the Lynx wearing pink jerseys for the WNBA's Breast Health Awareness drive, the coach and former WNBA player welcomed the staff she credits for starting her coaching career.

The reunion did not hide her satisfaction from earning a victory at the arena where she made her head coaching debut.

"It was a little emotional for me tonight, but in the scheme of things, it's all about reaching your goals, and that's reaching the playoffs," Gillom said.