Indiana stuns Minnesota in game one of the WNBA Finals with 76-70 victory
Tweet of the game || By the numbers || Finals schedule
The Indiana Fever stunned the Minnesota Lynx with a 76-70 victory in game one of the WNBA Finals Sunday night in Minneapolis in front of a sellout crowd of 14,322 fans. Fever star guard Katie Douglas, still out with a left ankle injury sustained during the Eastern Conference finals, watched the game from Indianapolis and witnessed her Fever revel in their underdog status to take down the defending champions on their home court.
“I think in crunch time our defense did a really good job,” said Indiana head coach Lin Dunn. “I thought our bench, as short as it was without Douglas tonight, did a great job. ”
With Shavonte Zellous inserted in the lineup in place of Douglas, the Fever did not miss a beat with the starters and role players coming up big in key moments late in the game. Erlana Larkins tied her career high in scoring and surpassed her rebounding record. She finished the game with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
“I can’t say enough about Erlana Larkins,” said Dunn. “She was a warrior on the boards with 15 rebounds.”
By the end of the first quarter all Fever players were in the scoring column. They led 25-20 after the first period.
Indiana extended their lead to 10 early in the second quarter but the Lynx roared back and only trailed by three going into the break, 43-40. They outscored the Fever 20-18 in the second quarter. The Fever had a dismal first half performance in terms of rebounds. The Lynx outrebounded the Fever 17-8 in the first half.
During the third quarter the game tightened up as the teams were tied twice and the Lynx went into the last period with a 58-56 lead.
| By the numbers
Total Rebounds Offensive Rebounds Defensive Rebounds Points in the Paint Second Chance Points Fastbreak Points Biggest Lead Lead Changes Times Tied |
The Fever hit their stride in the fourth quarter, holding the Lynx at bay then building a 10-point lead after Larkins pulled down her 14th rebound then made a layup. With 1:20 left to go in the game, the Lynx climbed within five after a three-point shot from Maya Moore but that was the closest they would get to the Fever.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve pointed out her team’s lack of offense in the fourth quarter as a key factor in their loss.
“The game was as hard as we thought it would be,” said Reeve. “I thought through three quarters, we for the most part responded and kind of hung in there. And then the fourth quarter, we just stopped scoring.”
Tamika Catchings led Indiana with 20 points, six rebounds and four blocks. Erin Phillips contributed 13 points and Briann January had 11 plus six assists.
Seimone Augustus led the Lynx with 23 points and six rebounds. Moore had 14 points plus 10 rebounds. Lindsay Whalen finished with 12 points and four assists. Rebekkah Brunson had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
“We came in here without any fear,” said Dunn of her team’s mentality and continued to heap praise on Larkins.
“She does the dirty work,” said Dunn. “She sets the hard screen. She goes and gets the rebound. She’s got three people hanging on her and she goes back up and puts it backup.”
Reeve agreed with Dunn and when asked if the Lynx were prepared for Larkins she said “obviously not.”
“She’s relentless.” said Reeve. “You know, it’s her only job is to go in there and rebound the ball.”
Catchings, looking to the future, said postgame “we gotta stay focused.”
“First thing is rest, rest in between these games,” said Catchings. “We know there’s going to be adjustments from both sides. I think for us…we have to pick it up on defense and we have to do a better job defensively and we have to do a better job on the boards.”
Game two of the best-of-five series is Wednesday, October 17 at 8 p.m. in Minnesota.
Game 2: Indiana at Minnesota
Wed., Oct. 17, 8 pm ET, ESPN
Game 3: Minnesota at Indiana
Fri., Oct. 19, 8 pm ET, ESPN2
Game 4: Minnesota at Indiana
Sun., Oct. 21, 8 pm ET, ESPN2
Game 5*: Indiana at Minnesota
Wed., Oct. 24, 8 pm ET, ESPN
* if necessary
38 seconds to go in game 1 of the 2012 Finals: “Guys stay off the officials okay! They’ve got their panties in a wad!”
— Stuff Lin Dunn Says (@lindunnsays) October 15, 2012
