Natasha Howard scored 25 points and Satou Sabally had 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Dallas Wings held off the visiting Minnesota Lynx 94-89 on Tuesday in a Commissioner’s Cup game in Arlington, Texas.

After trailing by six after the first quarter, the Wings (3-1) were up six at the half and five after three quarters but led by just a bucket with 5:31 to play. They were able to create some separation with seven points from Crystal Dangerfield and a three-point play by Arike Ogunbowale. Minnesota never got closer than three points the rest of the way.

Ogunbowale added 21 points and Kalani Brown, who was playing her first game of the year after signing on Tuesday, had 12 for the Wings.

Kayla McBride paced the Lynx (0-5) with 18 points. Tiffany Mitchell and Napheesa Collier scored 17 points apiece and Jessica Shepard racked up 15 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Rookie guard Diamond Miller was forced from the game with a right ankle injury with 3:04 to play in the second quarter and the Lynx up 44-43. Minnesota struggled to keep up the rest of the way.

Minnesota led by 14 points midway through the first quarter and by 27-16 after a McBride jumper with 2:23 to play before the Wings mounted a 9-0 run capped by a 3-pointer by Ogunbowale. The Lynx scored the final four points to assume a 31-25 advantage after one period. Sabally poured in 15 points in the period to keep Dallas close.

The Wings then opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 32-31. The game was tied at 44 with 3:03 to play in the period before Dallas, led by Howard’s 16 points in the quarter, reeled off an 8-2 spurt to end the half and take a 52-46 lead into the break.

The Wings got all but three of their first-half points from the trio of Howard (20 points), Sabally (17) and Ogunbowale (12). Mitchell paced Minnesota with 15 points.

–Field Level Media