Alexander Shun

Web Editor Associate | @alexpshun 

Playing for a chance to lock up the Western Conference against an opponent that they had beaten at home 11-straight times, the Minnesota Lynx knocked off the Seattle Storm 73-67 and clinched the top spot in the Western Conference, meaning the Lynx will have homecourt advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.

“This accomplishment is not easy to do and it has not gone without major bumps in the road and trials and tribulations and I think it just speaks to the leadership we have in our core group of captains,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. “We just had a lot to go through and to be able to keep our heads above water and still finish first, that just speaks to Lindsay, Seimone and Maya and Rebekkah’s ability to keep this team focused on what they have to focus on.”

Having clinched the top seed in the West, the Lynx will play the Los Angeles Sparks in the opening round of the playoffs.

“We know it’s a really good team,” said Reeve. “It’s a team that has gone through their own challenges and they’ve hung together and earned themselves a playoff spot and we know that’s it going to be a heck of a first-round match-up.”

The Lynx have one regular season game remaining to be played on Friday night in Seattle where they will admittedly look to close the game stronger than they did tonight.

The Lynx stormed out to an 18 point lead midway through the third quarter and it appeared as though Minnesota was going to roll to an easy victory. The Storm had other plans, clawing their way back and, at one point late in the fourth quarter, making it just a one point game. Was collapse imminent? Not for Minnesota and not for Lynx forward Maya Moore.

Moore quickly dropped back-to-back buckets, pushing the Lynx lead back to three and giving them just enough to close their regular season at home with a victory. Moore finished the night with 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists; just another night for Moore.

The real spark for Minnesota was the offensive play of guard Anna Cruz.

Cruz is known as a fantastic defender but tonight, showed that she can score too, pouring in 15 points while adding eight assists to go with her, per usual, stellar defensive play.

“She was dropping dimes, she was dropping threes, she was…yes,” joked Moore. “She has been so consistent for us just as far as energy and just working so hard to run the team, but her role has had to expand since we’re down two guards – that we’re excited to get back – she’s just gained so much experience and worked so hard.”

Center Crystal Langhorne led a determined Seattle effort, finishing with 14 points, five rebounds and two assists, while guard Jewell Loyd continued her run of great play, contributing 13 points, three assists and a blocked shot. Forward Alysha Clark had a solid night for Seattle as well, finishing with 12 points, six rebounds and three steals in a losing effort.

LEADER OF THE PACK: ANNA CRUZ

Reeve said it best when, in her postgame press conference, she said, “Cruz was the player of the game.” No arguments there.

Cruz set the tone offensively early on, scoring 10 of her 15 points in the first quarter and helped get the Lynx get out to an early lead. Being the intelligent player that she is, as Minnesota’s lead began to dwindle, Cruz stepped up her game on the defensive end, contributing to many key stops and helping the Lynx maintain their lead.

“I told her how proud our staff is of her,” said Reeve. “She’s worked really, really hard on her shot…it’s one of the most fulfilling things as a coach to see a player work so hard and then get in the game and enjoy success.”

Cruz had excellent ball movement tonight as well, finishing with a team-high eight assists and setting up many open shots for her teammates.

With injuries to Minnesota’s guards, Cruz has worked really hard to carry some extra weight for the team and tonight, she did that and so much more.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Minnesota’s lead was slipping uncomfortably low a little over midway through the fourth quarter and Seattle had possession. Looking to cut Minnesota’s lead to just two points, Storm forward Ramu Tokashiki drove to the lane for what looked like an easy lay-up; not so fast though.

Lynx forward Devereaux Peters followed Tokashiki the whole way and blocked her shot out of bounds to maintain Minnesota’s lead.

The block ignited the Target Center crowd that was seemingly getting a little nervous themselves and gave the Lynx the energy needed to finish a closer than expected game.

QUOTEABLE

“Did it hit the finger? Which finger? That’s my answer to that question,” joked Lynx forward Maya Moore when asked if she made contact with an inbounds pass that went out of bounds. The refs reviewed the play and deemed it Lynx possession; however, if the ball had touched Moore’s fingers, it would have been Seattle ball with Seattle only down three points. Great to see Moore has a sense of humor about it though.

QUICK HITS

– With tonight’s win, the Lynx officially clinched the top spot atop the Western Conference. The Lynx will have homecourt advantage throughout the Western Conference playoff series’. Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals will take place either Thursday Sept. 17 or Friday, Sept. 18.

– Anna Cruz was the player of the game according to Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. She finished the contest with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, including 1-for-1 from long distance. Cruz also finished out a career-high-tying eight assists. Tonight marked her sixth double-digit scoring night this season and the Lynx are now 5-1 when she scores in double-figures.

– The Lynx dealt a season-high-tying 25 assists on 30 made baskets in tonight’s contest. Cruz led the team, dishing out eight dimes. Minnesota has dished out 25 assists on two other occasions this season with the most recent at San Antonio on Aug. 21.

UP NEXT

The Minnesota Lynx will close out their regular season on Friday night in Seattle when they take on the Storm. The game will begin at 9:00 P.M. CT and can be heard on 106.1 BOB FM.