Stumbling Lynx Fall Again
August 19, 2015

The Minnesota Lynx entered Wednesday’s game knowing the team needed only two wins to cinch homecourt advantage in the first round of the WNBA playoffs and performed with all the zest of victims of a forced march in losing their second consecutive game to the Eastern Division Washington Mystics, 79-61, at Target Center.

An angry coach Cheryl Reeve faced a gaggle of reporters after the game and accused her players of losing focus and playing “out of sync” throughout the contest.

“Frustration set in,” said Reeve. “It’s hard to play when you’re frustrated. “We lost our focus, and Washington cashed in on our turnovers. The Mystics had great bounce in their steps.”

When substitute Asjha Jones scored on a 14-foot jump shot to close the first quarter for a 16-15 Lynx lead, it marked the start of a slippery slide for the local team that saw it trailing by 36 to 34 at halftime. A portent of things to come was evidenced by the fact that MVP Maya Moore had only two points, both via free throws. Moore was consistently bottled up by Washington defenders keying on her whenever she touched the ball. Moore attempted only four shots from the floor in the entire first half.

With Moore occupied, this allowed Seimone Augustus to fire at will, and fire she did, putting up 14 shots by game’s end. Unfortunately, only five found their mark.

The third quarter saw the Lynx stumbling down nightmare alley, barely able to reach double figures while the Mystics were putting up 23 points. Minnesota made bad passes, hurried their shots, and committed turnovers as if the game mattered a little less than a hastily-called morning scrimmage. Spectators sat in stunned disbelief as most had never seen their team perform like they were drunk.

By the fourth quarter, it was too late as Armintle Herrington scored an uncontested layup to give Washington a 75-52 lead. The rest was pure frustration.

Former Minneapolis South guard Tayler Hill came off the Mystics bench to score 10 points in the laugher. Washington’s Kara Lawson led all scorers with 20 points. Reserve Ivory Latta scored 16, all in the second half, including three-for-five from beyond the three-point line.

Sylvia Fowles led the Lynx with 13 points. Coach Reeve cautioned reporters by indicating her team “had not peaked. We’re on a journey,” she said.

That journey may yet lead to a mountaintop, but against the Mystics, the team hit rock bottom.