Swanny’s Stats

The official Minnesota Lynx Statistician Blog

Ah yes, June 21st is upon us, typically seen as the longest day of the year. Minnesotans can spend a few extra hours outside enjoying their cabins, hitting a few extra golf balls at the range, or getting chased by the bird size mosquitoes that seem to terrorize this time of year.

Unfortunately for the Lynx travel party, they will be out of town for the extra sunlight celebration. Ironically, they’ll be at the Mohegan Sun Casino. Ironic for many reasons, including and not limited to: The last sunlight the Lynx will see for 3 days will be in their final steps into the hotel (nothing to do outside the halls of the Mohegan Sun), regardless of the time of summer we come CT (May, June, or July), it always seems like the longest day(s). After enduring the nearly 3 hour flight, you then must drive an hour to get to southern Connecticut.

Don’t get me wrong, the Mohegan Sun is a “carpet joint” as they say in the casino biz. People come with wallets full of hundreds and leave with pockets full of lint. The restaurants are usually full of people wanting to pay $11.00 for a hamburger, and post game you’ll have to wait to get into a bar, especially when it’s $8.00 beer night. However, if you’re more into jump shots than slots or rebounding than roulette, it can be a bit of a drag, especially of late where the Connecticut Sun have been nearly impossible to beat.

This year is no exception. The Sun have already won 5 in a row at one point this season and are currently in first place in the Eastern Conference. However, if there has ever been a time to put your money on the Lynx (1-2 in the Mohegan Sun), now would be it. The Sun are in the midst of their first losing streak of the season, having lost 2 games in 2 days for the first time since 2004, and are playing 5 games in 8 days.

On the flip-side, Minnesota just hammered the Phoenix Mercury, the team responsible for starting the Sun's two-game slide. Connecticut has a similar style as Phoenix, so the Lynx will be well prepared for a fast-paced game.

So while you’re enjoying your extra hour or so of sunlight here in Minnesota, hopefully the Sun will set in Connecticut.

Lynx Ticket Sales Executive Jennifer Hanson went to the YWCA Uptown last week to promote the Minnesota Lynx and to visit the unique 40 + Women's Basketball League called Silver Fox.

The YWCA and the Minnesota Lynx are forming a great partnership as we have similar missions and goals! If anyone would like to learn more about the Silver Fox league, contact Lynx Season Ticket holder and YWCA League Coordinator Lauri Ludeman at 612.215.4206, ext. 4206 / lludeman@ywcampls.org

Starting Lineups:
Minnesota: Mann, Ohlde, Hayden, Augustus, Jacobs
Phoenix: Taurasi, Irvin, Lacy, Pettis, Miller

Diana Taurasi opens the game with a 3-pointer, but Seimone Augustus responds with a three-point play 17 seconds later. Amber Jacobs scores six unanswered points for a 9-6 Lynx lead, before Sandora Irvin tallies twice during an 8-2 Phoenix surge. Neither team leads by more than three points in the opening quarter, which features 11 lead changes -- the last of which occurs when Kristen Mann beats the buzzer off a dish from Shona Thorburn.

End of 1st Quarter: Minnesota 24, Phoenix 23

Minnesota begins the second quarter by missing seven of its first eight shots and committing four turnovers. The Mercury take advantage with treys from Kelly Miller and Belinda Snell to grab a four-point advantage. Augustus finally ends the Lynx drought with a 3-pointer of her own that knots the score at 31-31 with 5:30 remaining. Phoenix answers with a 10-2 burst, capped by Bridget Pettis' steal and layup, to take its biggest lead of the game at 41-33 with 2:19 to play.

Halftime: Phoenix 43, Minnesota 37

In a turnaround from the previous quarter, the Lynx score on seven of their first nine possessions, jumping ahead when Vanessa Hayden's three-point play makes it 50-49. Later, Thorburn sinks a 3-pointer to trigger a run of seven straight for Minnesota, giving them a 65-58 advantage with 1:52 left. Irvin's 3-pointer and putback get Phoenix back within two, but the Lynx use Tynesha Lewis' jumper at the horn to cap a 30-point quarter.

End of 3rd Quarter: Minnesota 67, Phoenix 63

Hayden tallies the Lynx' first two baskets of the fourth period, then two more Augustus jumpers keep Minnesota in front by six. However, six consecutive misses help Phoenix catch up, finally pulling even when Cappie Pondexter finds Taurasi on a breakaway to make it 79-79 with 3:14 remaining. Lewis reclaims the lead for Minnesota, with Pondexter responding at the 1:05 mark after grabbing an offensive rebound. Augustus dishes to Ohlde for the go-ahead layup with :49.3 left. However, the Mercury use two more offensive boards to retain possession, eventually tying it when Pondexter feeds Jennifer Lacy off an inbound pass at the :07.4 mark. Phoenix forces a turnover on Minnesota's final chance, leading to overtime.

End of 4th Quarter: Minnesota 83, Phoenix 83

Minnesota wins the tap and Augustus goes glass for the lead. The Mercury score the game's next seven points, however, taking the lead for good on Taurasi's three-point play with 3:01 to play. Two Taurasi free throws make it 90-85, but Augustus tallies her 30th point of the contest to get the Lynx within three. Minnesota gets defensive stops on the next two Phoenix possessions, only to come up dry on its own end as well, and Miller seals it by sinking a 15-footer with :16.7 remaining. The Lynx commit eight turnovers in the overtime period, leading to nine Phoenix points.

Final Score: Phoenix 96, Minnesota 90

Team Statistics:
FG Percentage: Minnesota 38.0% (35-92), Phoenix 36.2% (38-105)
3FG Percentage: Minnesota 25.0% (2-8), Phoenix 24.0% (6-25)
FT Percentage: Minnesota 81.8% (18-22), Phoenix 82.4% (14-17)
Rebounds: Minnesota 66 (22 Off, 44 Def), Phoenix 47 (17 Off, 30 Def)
Assists: Minnesota 12, Phoenix 19
Turnovers: Minnesota 29, Phoenix 11
Steals: Minnesota 5, Phoenix 19
Blocks: Minnesota 1, Phoenix 12
Points Off Turnovers: Minnesota 4, Phoenix 30
Points in the Paint: Minnesota 44, Phoenix 32
2nd-Chance Points: Minnesota 18, Phoenix 18
Fast Break Points: Minnesota 8, Phoenix 26

Individual Statistics:
Minnesota:
Mann (31:41) -- 7 pts (2-10 FG, 3-3 FT), 3-6-9 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 3 TO
Ohlde (23:38) -- 9 pts (4-14 FG, 1-1 FT), 5-8-13 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2 TO
Hayden (13:53) -- 10 pts (4-9 FG, 2-3 FT), 2-6-8 reb, 1 stl, 3 TO
Augustus (38:52) -- 30 pts (14-27 FG, 1-2 3FG, 1-1 FT), 2-4-6 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 6 TO, 1 blk
Jacobs (30:43) -- 10 pts (3-10 FG, 0-2 3FG, 4-4 FT), 1-3-4 reb, 5 ast, 4 TO
Thorburn (21:27) -- 6 pts (2-3 FG, 1-2 3FG, 1-2 FT), 2-4-6 reb, 1 ast
Williams (27:05) -- 12 pts (3-12 FG, 6-8 FT), 6-6-12 reb, 1 stl, 5 TO
Lewis (15:44) -- 4 pts (2-4 FG, 0-1 3FG), 1-3-4 reb, 1 ast, 1 TO
Anderson (2:19) -- 2 pts (1-1 FG), 0-0-0 reb, 1 TO
Duffy (10:46) -- 0 pts (0-1 FG, 0-1 3FG), 0-3-3 reb, 1 ast, 2 TO
Davis (4:12) -- 0 pts (0-0 FG), 0-0-0 reb, 1 TO
Strom (4:40) -- 0 pts (0-1 FG), 0-1-1 reb

Phoenix:
Taurasi (31:24) -- 17 pts (5-19 FG, 2-12 3FG, 5-5 FT), 0-5-5 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 3 TO, 3 blk
Irvin (27:11) -- 13 pts (6-11 FG, 1-1 3FG), 4-7-11 reb, 1 ast, 4 stl, 4 blk
Lacy (22:35) -- 8 pts (4-9 FG), 2-1-3 reb, 1 ast, 1 TO, 1 blk
Pettis (16:37) -- 2 pts (1-7 FG), 1-1-2 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl
Miller (28:16) -- 15 pts (5-14 FG, 1-2 3FG, 4-4 FT), 1-1-2 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 1 TO, 1 blk
Hall (13:28) -- 3 pts (0-6 FG, 3-5 FT), 1-5-6 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 TO
Pondexter (21:35) -- 18 pts (9-20 FG, 0-4 3FG), 5-3-8 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk
Strother (26:34) -- 7 pts (3-6 FG, 1-3 3FG), 3-5-8 reb, 2 stl, 1 TO, 1 blk
Williams (9:56) -- 4 pts (2-3 FG), 0-0-0 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl
Jackson (12:17) -- 4 pts (2-7 FG, 0-1 3FG), 0-1-1 reb, 1 ast, 2 TO
Snell (10:40) -- 5 pts (1-3 FG, 1-2 3FG, 2-2 FT), 0-1-1 reb, 2 ast
Smith (4:28) -- 0 pts (0-0 FG), 0-0-0 reb