Look at the Lynx: Liberty Rings Lynx Bells

#2 posting 7.31.2006
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A LOOK AT THE LYNX: Liberty Rings Lynx Bells

The lowly NY Liberty swept the season series from the faltering MN Lynx.

NUMBERS EXPLAINED
player, points, possessions, pp100, floor %

MINNESOTA
STARTERS
Amber Jacobs 2, 6, 33.3, .167
Seimone Augustus 32, 22, 145.5, .636
Kristen Mann 0, 5, 0.0, .000
Tamika Williams 0, 1, 0.0, .000
Nicole Ohlde 9, 12, 75.0, .417
BENCH
Vanessa Hayden 8, 8, 100.0, .500
Adrian Williams 4, 4, 100.0, .500
Megan Duffy 13, 11, 118.2, .545
Svetlana Abrosimova 1, 5, 20.0, .200
Tynesha Lewis 0, 2, 0.0, .000
Team 0, 2, 0.0, .000 (24 seconds)

NEW YORK
STARTERS
Loree Moore 12, 12, 100.0, .500
Sherill Baker 10, 8, 125.0, .625
Shameka Christon 20, 17, 117.6, .471
Barbara Farris 20, 11, 181.8, .909
Catherine Kraaeveld 7, 11, 63.6, .364
BENCH
Ashley Battle 0, 4, 0.0, .000
Iciss Tillis 4, 6, 66.7, .333
Erin Thom 5, 6, 83.3, .333
Team 0, 2, 0.0, .000 (24 seconds)

TRENCH PLAYER
Barbara Farris

BY THE NUMBERS
Minnesota 69, 76, .434
New York 78, 77, 101.3, .481

It was the same old song, 18th verse. This game the Lynx started out with only two turnovers, instead of the five in Chicago, but MN had five in the first nine possessions. NY only converted on two of them, but that really isn't the point. What is happening is a lack of focus to start the game. These decisions aren't due to fatigue or exhaustion.

Defensivley NY scored five lay ups in their first 12 possessions or first seven scores. MN didn't get a lay up basket until Augustus delivered on the 13th possession. The penetration pemitted needs to be addressed. Matador defense can not stand.

Despite all that bad news MN actualy led 53-51 with 2:36 to go in the 3rd quarter. What broke the Lynx back was the seven possession drought from possessions 2-8 at the start of the 4th quarter. It was 56 all when the streak started. It was 64-56 when the Lynx had to play catch up again. A key play was when Mann committed a flagrant foul on Barbara Farris. She made one of the free throws and then eventually scored a jump shot. With 2:46 MN closed to 67-62 but with under two minutes NY marched to the free throw line six straight possessions and they were money going 11/12.

Again Seimone was wonderful, but the rest of the starters? 2-0-0-9. Even reliable Abrosimova has been tanking lately with a solo point on both Friday and Sunday. Augustus is doing most of the heavy lifting. Duffy had a strong game off the bench. Vanessa Hayden had her 3rd straight 100 pp100 game, the best streak going for the Lynx (Augustus is at 2 right now). Hayden has had a strong July averaging 98.86 in pp100 and .534 in floor %. In May/June she was a dismal 69.14 and .370.

Next up: Out & About with the Mpls Lady Lakers vs Purple Aces; later another Out & About with the North Tartan Blue vs Kansas City Keys. Much later tonight a look at the Chisago Lakes Summer League finales.