Seven players scored in double figures Monday night as the Minnesota Lynx rolled to a 107-74 win over the visiting Portland Fire.
Natasha Howard led the balanced attack with 18 points, while Courtney Williams added 16. Nia Coffey hit for 15 points and Kayla McBride contributed 14 as Minnesota (11-3, 5-1 Commissioner’s Cup) sank 42 of 77 shots (54.5%) from the field while recording a season-high 31 assists.
Olivia Miles chipped in 12 points despite missing a large chunk of the first half after drawing two quick fouls. Off the bench, Anastasiia Olairl Kosu and Maya Caldwell each tallied 11. The Lynx earned a 40-27 rebounding advantage.
Portland (7-9, 1-5) got 10 points each from Carla Leite and reserve Frieda Buhner. Bridget Carleton, who spent the last seven years with Minnesota before being tabbed by the Fire in the expansion draft, managed only three points on 1 of 9 shooting from the field, 11 below her average.
After snapping a four-game losing streak Saturday night with an 84-83 win over Dallas, Portland established a quick 6-2 lead before Minnesota put its stamp on the game’s remainder behind outstanding execution on offense and solid defense.
Beginning with Miles’ layup at the 8:06 mark, the Lynx went on an 11-2 run to take control for good. They gradually pulled away, ringing up 35 first-quarter points. Maya Caldwell converted in transition with 9.9 seconds left for a 14-point lead going to the second period.
The Fire managed to draw within 12 points on four occasions in the second quarter before Minnesota obtained another degree of separation in the last four minutes of the half. It ended in fitting fashion as Antonia Delaere hit Coffey with a perfect inbounds pass from midcourt for a layup as time expired, making it 60-40 at intermission.
Caldwell’s driving layup with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter upped the advantage to 30 and Delaere’s 3-pointer with 37.2 seconds on the clock gave the Lynx an 85-59 cushion heading to the fourth quarter.
–Field Level Media
