NY ✈️ D.C.✈️ ATL
We tip a three-game road trip tonight vs. @nyliberty!
6:30 p.m. CT
? » League Pass
? » @BobFMSportsNet, Lynx App pic.twitter.com/oTN3RJdnbA— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) May 25, 2018
The New York Liberty failed to avenge their opening-night loss as Maya Moore and the Minnesota Lynx came away victorious.
The New York Liberty appeared ready to open their White Plains era on the right note, as Tina Charles banked in a fourth-quarter layup off the glass to send a strong gathering at Westchester County Center into a roar.
Maya Moore, however, had other plans.
Moore’s three-pointer with 19 seconds to go was the spark the Minnesota Lynx needed to earn a 78-72 victory from the Liberty on Friday night, spoiling New York’s 2018 home opener.
Three Stars
3rd Star: C Amanda Zauhi B.
Zauhi B. once again came off the bench to provide solid minutes. When she came off, she was dealt with the unenviable task of guarding defending WNBA MVP Sylvia Fowles in the paint. She did a solid job, limiting Fowles to just five shot attempts, forcing her to pass the ball out. Unfortunately for the Liberty (0-2), the Lynx brought in a strong shooting game, but Fowles’ strong interior game was mostly neutralized thanks to Zauhi B., who also added five rebounds.
Make it rain, @KayNurse11!
Watch her knock down threes back-to-back. #WatchMeWork pic.twitter.com/XWrnRapRAo
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 26, 2018
.@MooreMaya nails the dagger three to put the @minnesotalynx back up again! pic.twitter.com/jZWEx3bPjc
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 26, 2018
2nd Star: G Kia Nurse
In her Westchester debut, Nurse initially carried over her shooting struggles from the second half of last week’s Chicago game, starting off 1-for-8 in the first half. However, she found a smooth stroke in the third, sinking two three-pointers to give the Liberty a lead, and ended the frame with a solid block on a jump shot.
Nurse is going through typical rookie growing pains, on display when she bricked a potential game-winner on the Liberty’s final possession, but it’s hard to find too many faults in Nurse’s first couple.
.@tinacharles31 banks it in through traffic to give the @nyliberty the lead! pic.twitter.com/lwt8lFqitg
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 26, 2018
1st Star: C Tina Charles
In the first half, Charles was forced to carry the Liberty. She hit her first four shots, and ended the first half with 12 points and nine rebounds. She was single-handedly keeping the team afloat in the early going, and ended up being the only New Yorker with more than three attempts to hit at least half her shots. She was able to outplay her MVP companion Fowles, but the lack of help came back to haunt the team in the end.
What Decided It?
The Liberty’s poor shooting came back to haunt them. Charles’ 4-for-7 performance notwithstanding, the Liberty shot only 27 percent in the first half, and 39 percent, including Charles, for the entire game.
These woes truly came to light in the fourth quarter, as the Liberty hit only three field goals in the entire frame, including just one in the first eight minutes. The defending champion Lynx took advantage, outscoring the Liberty 23-13 to close things out.
What’s Next?
The Liberty return to Westchester on Tuesday night, as they welcome in the Dallas Wings (7:00 PM, MSG+).
