June 21 - Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury Postgame Notes
June 22, 2022 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Minnesota Lynx News Release
minnesota lynx 84, PHOENIX MERCURY 71
FOOTPRINT CENTER| PHOENIX, AZ| JUNE 21, 2022
High Points High Rebounds High Assists
Minnesota Lynx McBride -- 18 Shepard -- 13 Jefferson -- 9
Phoenix Mercury Diggins-Smith -- 25 Charles -- 7 Diggins-Smith -- 6
Lynx Notes
Kayla McBride led Minnesota in scoring with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and added a career-high-tying five steals, the most in a single game for the Lynx this season. The other contest McBride had five steals in was against Minnesota on August 13, 2020 when she played for the Las Vegas Aces.
Off the bench and earning a team-high 31:07 minutes, Jessica Shepard had a game-high 13 rebounds, marking her seventh time this season (second consecutive game) leading Minnesota. She now has eight games grabbing 10+ boards.
For the eighth time in team history, Shepard tallied 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists when scoring less than 10 points. This is the third time this season Shepard met this threshold, something that was not reached since Rebekkah Brunson did on June 29, 2016.
In her first game since May 8, Natalie Achonwa earned a season-high 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field. Achonwa grabbed six rebounds (five defensive) in 18:15 minutes of play.
In 22:25 minutes of action, Damiris Dantas added eight points surpassing her 1000th career point in a Lynx uniform and her 1500th point in her WNBA career.
Team Notes
Tonight's victory in Phoenix marks the 10th straight win for Minnesota on the road against the Mercury.
Minnesota held Phoenix to just 23-of-58 shooting (39.7 percent), improving to 135-5 when holding an opponent to 40 percent or less from the field since 2010.
The Lynx tallied 34 points in the paint to 16 Mercury points, marking the 14th game this season where Minnesota scored 30+ points in the paint.
Minnesota outrebounded Phoenix 36-32, giving the Lynx the upper hand in 12 of their 16 games so far this season.
The Lynx bench players outscored the Mercury, 32-16, tallying the second straight game which Minnesota's bench added 30+ points. Minnesota's bench has outscored every opponent in the last five games.
The Lynx return to Target Center on Thursday, June 23 to host the Phoenix Mercury. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. CT and will be broadcasted on Bally Sports North.
Mercury Notes
Skylar Diggins-Smith had a game-high 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field (3-of-5 from beyond the arc), six assists and one rebound in 33:20 minutes of action.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from June 22, 2022
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- Minnesota Lynx Center Sylvia Fowles Named AT&T WNBA All-Star 2022 Co-Captain and Starter - Minnesota Lynx
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- AT&T WNBA All-Star Starters Announced with Seattle Storm's Sue Bird Extending Record-Number of All-Star Selections to 13 - WNBA
- Kelsey Mitchell Is on an All-Star Level - Indiana Fever
- June 21 - Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury Postgame Notes - Minnesota Lynx
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