Fever 'here for real' with 1-0 lead on Lynx
BY DAVE CAMPBELL Associated Press
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
10/17/12 at 4:02 AM
MINNEAPOLIS - Midway through the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, Minnesota power forward Rebekkah Brunson rose in the lane toward the basket with her team trying to mount a rally.
Indiana's Erlana Larkins delivered the emphatic rejection.
Brunson was knocked to the floor as her shot was swatted, and Minnesota's chance to win the series opener essentially fell down with her. The Lynx were trailing 65-62 with about five minutes left, but they never came closer. The Fever quickly tacked on a layup on the other end and cruised to a 76-70 victory on Sunday.
"It was what I call a thunder block," Fever coach Lin Dunn said. "She is rising up and she just slides that ball, and it just kind of set the tone: 'Hey, we're here for real, and we are ready to play.' "
The Lynx, looking to become the league's first repeat champion in 10 years, are at full attention.
"We want to make sure that we're not a team that gets out-hungered. That is really important," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said, adding: "We've got a lot to overcome, and we'll see if we're able to."
Game 2 is Wednesday at Target Center, before the best-of-five series shifts to Indiana for Game 3 on Friday.
"We've got a lot of competitors on our team that really hate to lose, so I guess in Game 2 you'll see the difference," Lynx guard Seimone Augustus said. "You'll see us come out and be a little bit more aggressive from start to finish. We're going to play and give it all that we have."
The Fever spent Monday getting massages at a spa but were at practice on Tuesday..
The Fever will continue to lean on their tallest ladies, with Larkins and Tamika Catchings inside. They combined for 36 points, 21 rebounds and five blocks in Game 1 and held Lynx post players Brunson and Taj McWilliams-Franklin to 16 points and 14 rebounds.
WNBA FINALS
(Best-of-5)
INDIANA 1, MINNESOTA 0
Sunday: Indiana 76, Minnesota 70
Wednesday: Indiana at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
Friday: Minnesota at Indiana, 7 p.m.
x-Sunday: Minnesota at Indiana, 7 p.m.
x-Wednesday, Oct. 24: Indiana at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
