Lynx daily
Published on May 23, 2006 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Minnesota Lynx News Release
LAST NIGHT
Lynx fall on Opening Night
Connecticut 81, Minnesota 69
Despite 21 points from Seimone Augustus in her WNBA debut, the Lynx dropped their season opener to the Connecticut Sun, 81-69, at Target Center in front of 9,471 fans on Tuesday night. Nicole Ohlde was the only other Minnesota player to reach double-digits in scoring, posting 10 points and five rebounds. Vanessa Hayden grabbed a Lynx team-high seven boards and registered six points and three blocks. Katie Douglas led all scorers with 28 points for the Sun, while teammates Nykesha Sales and Erin Phillips tallied 13 points apiece. Minnesota held a 59-55 lead after three quarters, however Connecticut outscored its host 26-10 over the final period.
TONIGHT'S GAME
Lynx at Detroit Shock
6:30 p.m. CDT at The Palace of Auburn Hills
The Lynx visit the Detroit Shock tonight in the second game of the 2006 season. The Lynx and Shock split the two-game series last year with each team winning at home. Minnesota's three-game winning streak vs. the Shock was snapped in Detroit with an overtime loss on Aug. 11. It was the third time in the last seven meetings that the two teams went into overtime. Minnesota holds a 7-4 all-time advantage and is 2-3 all-time in Detroit.
A GRAND DEBUT
Last night's game marked the regular-season professional debut of 2006 WNBA No. 1 overall draft pick Seimone Augustus. Augustus did not disappoint against the Sun, posting 21 points and five rebounds. That was just a carry over from the preseason where she averaged 28 points per game. The 6-0 guard tallied two of the top four scoring efforts in the league during the preseason, with a 30-point performance at Phoenix and a 26-point effort vs. Seattle. Augustus, only the second player in the history of women's collegiate basketball to win the Wade Trophy (best women's player) twice, led LSU to three Final Four appearances, and led the nation in scoring as a senior with 22.7 points per game.
ROSTER NOTES
Eight holdovers from 2005 were on this year's Opening Night 12-player roster. The longest tenured is Svetlana Abrosimova, who is entering her sixth season in Minnesota, while Tamika Williams starts year number five. Nine of the 12 players on the Opening Night roster were originally drafted by Minnesota. Four players made their debuts in a Lynx uniform last night, Augustus, Megan Duffy, Shona Thorburn, and Adrian Williams. Nicole Ohlde (6'5") remains the Lynx tallest player, followed by Vanessa Hayden and Adrian Williams (6'4").
TONIGHT'S RADIO BROADCAST
Tonight's game at Detroit and all contests during the 2006 season can be heard on the radio home of the Lynx, BOB 106 (106.1 FM), with Brian Seiman calling the action.
LYNX TICKETS
Tickets to tonight's Home Opener and all Lynx games this season are available at the Target Center Box Office, online at www.lynxbasketball.com or by calling 1-888-WNBA-TIX.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 23, 2006
- Lynx daily - Minnesota Lynx
- Storm Sign Lawson-Wade - Seattle Storm
- Christensen Rejoins Comets - Houston Comets
- Silver Stars launch Choose Respect program - San Antonio Stars
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