Three Observations From Friday’s Lynx Win Over Fever

Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
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The Minnesota Lynx improved to a WNBA-leading 22-5 overall with a 111-52 blowout win over the Indiana Fever on Friday night at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Here are our three observations from the win:

Record-Setting Performance 

Friday’s win over the Fever was filled with many franchise and WNBA records along the way.

Here are some of those records that were set in the game (via Lynx Public Relations):

  • Largest margin of victory in WNBA history (59, 111-52).
  • Largest halftime lead in WNBA history (45, 68-23).
  • Most points in a first half in franchise history (68) and the 68 first-half points are the second-most in league history for first halves (69, Phoenix vs. Minnesota on July 29, 2010).
  • Most field goals made in any half in franchise history (27).
  • Tied the most points in any quarter in franchise history (37, happened twice – 37 in the third quarter vs. Seattle on Aug. 7, 2007 and in the fourth quarter at Phoenix on Sept. 3, 2008).
  • The 37-0 Lynx run that spanned 12 minutes and 59 second over the course of the first half was the most consecutive points in any game in WNBA history.

Insane Run In The First Half

While the Lynx got out to an 28-point lead in that record-setting first quarter, you were sitting there wondering how long the hot streak was going to last.

Well, Minnesota answered that by rattling off a little 37-0 run over an almost 13-minute span that ended with a few minutes remaining in the first half. They went into the half with a 45-point lead.

OK, now they are going to let up a little bit, right? RIGHT???

Then the Lynx lead stretched to 50 … then 55 … then 60 … then, finally, the largest lead of the game, 63, in the second half.

The first half run was unlike anything you’ll ever see in a basketball game. And that helped propel the Lynx to a historic win in front of the Xcel Energy Center crowd.

Stepping Up When Called Upon 

With both Lindsay Whalen (left hand) and Rebekkah Brunson (left ankle) out of Friday’s contest in St. Paul, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said before the game that Minnesota’s second unit will need to step up.

They did just that in the victory.

Jia Perkins had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Natasha Howard had six points and seven rebounds, Alexis Jones had eight points and four assists and Temi Fagbenle added six points and three rebounds off the bench.

Along with the bench, Sylvia Fowles led the way for the Lynx, tallying 25 points and six rebounds. Renee Montgomery, filling in for the injured Whalen, had 20 points (including five threes), Moore had 11 points, four rebounds and four assists, Seimone Augustus had 10 points, eight assists and three rebounds and Plenette Pierson had 10 points, 6 rebounds and four assists stepping into the starting lineup for the injured Brunson.

The Lynx return to action on Sunday afternoon when they travel to take on the New York Liberty at 2 p.m. at Madison Square Garden. The game will be aired on NBATV, WNBA League Pass, 106.1 BOB FM and TuneIn Radio.