Maya Moore leads Lynx to 90-71 win over the Liberty (May 18, 2017)
NEW YORK (AP) Maya Moore scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half to lead a balanced Minnesota offense and help the Lynx beat the New York Liberty 90-71 on Thursday night.
All five of the Lynx starters were in double figures, with Lindsay Whalen and Sylvia Fowles each adding 12 points.
New York (1-1) led 45-43 before Minnesota scored 17 of the next 19 points to go up 60-47 midway through the third quarter. Whalen had the final six points during the game-changing burst.
The Lynx (2-0) were up 14 early in the fourth quarter before Brittany Boyd sparked a Liberty run. New York's point guard scored four straight to start a 7-0 run. Rebecca Allen capped it with a 3-pointer to make it 74-67, but that's as close as New York could get.
Boyd twisted her left ankle midway through the final period, leaving the court and heading to the locker room. She finished with 16 points. Sugar Rodgers led the Liberty with 20.
Tina Charles was held to just six points, going without a field goal in the first half. She has been sick the last few days and was just 2-for-9 from the field.
New York scored the first eight points of the game before Minnesota went on a 22-6 run to take an early advantage. The Lynx led 43-40 at the half despite only four points from Moore.
JERSEY RETIREMENT: Fowles will have her jersey retired at LSU next season. The school announced it a few days ago that she'd be the 12th athlete or coach to have their jersey retired at the school. Fowles joins Minnesota teammate Seimone Augustus as the only female basketball players to have that honor at LSU.
''It means a lot to me,'' Fowles said. ''When they first called me I wasn't sure if they were being serious, but then when I knew it was for real I was so incredibly honored by it.''
Fowles, who plays in China in the winter, said she will work with the school to come up with a date that will work for the ceremony.
TIP-INS:
LYNX: Rebekkah Brunson had four rebounds and is one short of 3,000 in her career.
LIBERTY: Charles' career low is two points, last done in 2015. ... Coach Bill Laimbeer turns 60 on Friday. His wife surprised him by flying in their son, Eric and daughter, Keri.
GETTING PRESIDENTIAL: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was at the game as well as WNBA President Lisa Borders.
UP NEXT:
LYNX: At Dallas on Saturday.
LIBERTY: At Phoenix on Tuesday to begin a two-game road swing.
