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    • Minnesota Lynx defeat Connecticut Sun in Game 3 of WNBA playoff series
    Albany

    Minnesota Lynx defeat Connecticut Sun in Game 3 of WNBA playoff series

    Madoc Meredith Posted on

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    Napheesa Collier collected 26 points and 11 rebounds as the Minnesota Lynx earned a 90-81 victory over the Connecticut Sun in the third game of a WNBA semifinal series on Friday night in Uncasville, Connecticut.

    With the win, Minnesota secured a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five set and has a chance to punch its ticket to the WNBA Finals when the teams meet again for game four on Sunday in Uncasville.

    Collier went 11-for-19 from the field and was one of the many beneficiaries of a fluid Lynx offense that produced 22 assists. Courtney Williams contributed 16 points and eight of those helpers, while Kayla McBride scored 13 points and Bridget Carleton scored 12 points.

    All five Connecticut starters scored in double figures, led by Brionna Jones (21 points). DeWanna Bonner contributed 16 points and Marina Mabrey scored 14 points but hit just 1 of 11 triples. Triple-double threat Alyssa Thomas delivered 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

    Minnesota outscored the Sun by 57.4 percent for a total of 41.1 percent.

    Mabrey finally got going for Connecticut in the third quarter, scoring seven points in the first 4:16 of the frame. Her three-point play cut the Sun’s deficit to 54-47, but she immediately gave those points back, fouling Carleton on a three-point attempt.

    Carleton’s perfect effort at the free throw line led to a 10-point game, and Minnesota led by at least eight points for the remainder of the third period before entering the fourth period with a 68-54 lead.

    1:20 minutes before the end of the game, Bonner converted an and-one to reduce the hosts’ deficit to 86:79. However, Williams and Carleton quickly responded with jumps, putting the contest out of reach.

    Collier knocked down four of five shots in the first quarter, scored eight points and gave Minnesota a 23-16 lead after ten minutes of play.

    Connecticut soon fell into a nine-point hole, but used a 6-0 spurt to get within 26-23 with 7:37 left in the second quarter.

    However, the rest of the first half belonged to the Lynx. They went up by 14 at 46-32 when Alanna Smith hit two free throws with 1:56 left, capping a game-changing 20-9 run. Minnesota settled for a 48-36 lead at halftime.

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    Madoc Meredith
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