Lynx Come to Life
June 23, 2009

Minnesota Lynx guard Candace Wiggins saw to it that the funeral parade was, at least for the time being, cancelled. Those fans who had written the team off for dead after a season-ending knee injury to Seimone Augustus were given a glimmer of hope by Wiggins, who scored 18 of her season-high 25 points in the first half as the Lynx coasted to a 69-57 victory over the New York Liberty Tuesday night at Target Center.

Wiggins paced a remarkable 21-2 third-quarter run with seven points and two assists, putting the Lynx up 59-38.

Roneeka Hodges was the only Minnesota player in double figures with 10. Amazingly, Minnesota scored only 10 points in the fourth quarter but held on for the win. The Lynx were playing its first home game since losing leading scorer Augustus who has a torn left knee ligament.

Shameka Christon had a season-high 25 points for the Liberty, but New York saw a two-game winning streak end. Former Gopher Janel McCarville was held to four points. The majority of those in sparse crowd, announced at 5,620, appeared to be McCarville supporters.

The Liberty trailed by 13 points in the first half and by 11 at halftime, then closed the gap to two with a 9-0 run to start the third quarter. But Minnesota found the strength to rally. Wiggins scored seven points and Kelly Miller added five during the next five minutes as the Lynx pulled away.

For the game, Wiggins hit 9 of 19 shots from the floor including four three-point baskets. She also led the team in assists with five.

With Augustus conspicuously hobbling about on crutches near the Minnesota bench, Lynx team members were given some much-needed moral support but at the same time were reminded that any ballplayer’s season can be over in a flash.