Lynx Weekly
September 7, 2004 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Minnesota Lynx News Release
Lynx Trax
Minnesota picked up its first victory in 10 all-time trips to Houston last Wednesday, beating the Comets for the third time in as many meetings this year. The Houston victory pushed the Lynx five games above the .500 mark (at 16-11) for just the second time in franchise history (the Lynx opened the 2000 campaign at 10-5). Indiana stopped the Lynx' two-game winning streak on Friday, completing a sweep of the two-game season set after edging Minnesota, 58-56, on July 8 at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Lynx have won 11 of their last 15 games, a run that began with a 58-50 overtime victory over Houston on June 30 at Target Center. Minnesota trails second-place Seattle by one game in the WesConference playoff race, while holding a one-game edge on both Sacramento and Phoenix.
Balancing Act
Five Lynx players reached double figures last Wednesday at Houston (Ohlde 16, Darling14, Abrosimova 12, Williams 12, Lassiter 11), equaling a club record set most recentlyMay 20 at Seattle. The Lynx are now 3-2 in Katie Smith's absence, with four different leading scorers. In that five-game span, Nicole Ohlde is averaging 10.4 ppg, Svetlana Abrosimova is scoring 9.8 ppg, Helen Darling is tallying 8.8 ppg and Tamika Williams is at 8.6 ppg. Minnesota has also boosted its assists to 16.0 per game over those five contests and is averaging 10.0 steals.
A Look Ahead
The Lynx face the Charlotte Sting twice this week, with the first meeting coming at TargCenter on Wednesday. The Sting have won four straight over Minnesota since a 76-67 Lynx victory on Aug. 8, 2000 at the Charlotte Coliseum. Minnesota is 2-5 all-time against the Sting and has never beaten Charlotte in three Target Center meetib The Lynx will team up with Verizon Wireless to promote healthy teen relationships duringthe Lynx' game vs. the Charlotte Sting on Wednesday. The first 3will receive Verizon Wireless key chains instructing fans to visit www.lynxbasketball.com, and take the "Keys to a Healthy Teen Relationship Quiz." The quiz, developed by Casa de Esperanza, will be available online beginning Wednesday and will end at the conclusion of the Lynx' season.
For the team's final regular-season home game on Friday, the Lynx take on the Seattle Storm for the third and final time season. Minnesota is 0-2 against the Storm in 2004. Seattle's win on July 30 halted a five-game drought at Target Center, dating to a 67-60 triumph July 5, 2000. The Lynx hold an 8-7 lead in the all-time series, with five of those wins coming at Target Center.
Also Also on Friday, the team will hold a Faith and Family Night. The acoustic-pop band FFH will perform the national anthem and a full live postgame concert, including their number one hits "Before It Was Said," "On My Cross," "Watching Over Me," "I Want to Be Like You" and "One of These Days."
Successful Surgeries
On Friday, Sept. 3, Katie Smith underwent successful surgery on her right knesurgery repaired the medial meniscus and reconstructed the anterior cruciate ligament. Center Michele Van Gorp underwent successful surgery on Saturday, Sept. 4, to repair a stress fracture in the navicular bone of her left foot. Smith and Van Gorp will miss the remainder of the 2004 WNBA campaign.
Rookie Roundup
Center Nicole Ohlde currently ranks first among rookies in rebounding (5.8 rpg) and blocks (1.32 bpg; good for sixth overall), second in FG accuracy (42.0%) and third in scoring (11.0 ppg). Ohlde's block total currently stands at 37, breaking the single-season franchise mark previously held by Erin Buescher (29 in 2001).
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from September 7, 2004
- L.A.'s Dixon fined and suspended, Seattle's Lennox fined - WNBA
- Seattle Storm Host 'WNBA Salutes The Women Of The U.S. Olympic Teams' At Keyarena Tomorrow - Seattle Storm
- Lynx Weekly - Minnesota Lynx
- Mystics Messenger - Washington Mystics
- Los Angeles center Lisa Leslie named WNBA Player of the Week - WNBA
- 2004 WNBA season resumes with USA gold, increased TV ratings and new marketing partnerships - WNBA
- WNBA salutes the women of the US Olympic Teams - WNBA
- Back to school with the Wizards and Mystics - Washington Mystics
- Charlotte Sting Make Roster Moves - Charlotte Sting
- Charlotte Sting Weekly - Charlotte Sting
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