Lynx goal will remain same, even sans Seimone

Rookie Lynx coach Jen Gillom said the team's goal this season, even without Seimone Augustus, remains unchanged: win 20 games, which should ensure a spot in the WNBA playoffs.

"This team can still do it," Gillom said after a 1-2 road trip out West during which Augustus suffered a season-ending knee injury. "Yes, it's going to be harder than before, but we can still do it."

The Lynx have made two postseason appearances in 10 seasons, last in 2004. At 16-18 last year, they missed the playoffs by two games.

Augustus was hurt Wednesday, in the second game of the Lynx's trip. She was leading the WNBA in scoring with a 23.4-point average before scoring nine points in the first half of a 104-80 loss at Phoenix.

"I hate it when bad things happen to good people," said Charde Houston, a second-year Lynx forward.

One positive Houston and her teammates can embrace is the team's schedule: Five of the next six games are at the Target Center. The first home game in that stretch is tonight against the New York Liberty.

"Our franchise mindset is to take care of home, regardless of who it is," Houston said. "Home games are the games you should win."

That was definitely not the case Friday at Seattle. Two days after the one-sided loss at Phoenix, the Lynx were routed by the Storm 90-62.

"We looked very bad and everybody on this team is very embarrassed by our performance," Houston said.

"You need more than two days to make an adjustment from an injury like [Augustus']," Gillom said.

Roneeka Hodges, a 5-11 guard with 18 previous starts in four seasons with Houston, replaced Augustus in the starting lineup at Seattle. She made two three-pointers and two free throws for eight points. Rashanda McCants, a 6-1 rookie forward, also got more playing time (22 minutes) and had eight points and five rebounds.

"Hopefully between those two, we can get some things done," Gillom said.

"There are not a whole lot of players available out there to come in and do more than what we have already," Gillom said.

Three Lynx are averaging in double figures: Houston (16.9 ppg), Anosike (12.7) and guard Candice Wiggins (11.6). Wiggins, shooting 35 percent from the field, averaged four more points a game last season as a rookie when she was a reserve and played fewer minutes.

Wiggins had arthroscopic surgery on her right knee last September.

"She will find her comfort zone again and Candice will be back in a couple games," Gillom said. "We got to have her. We need her scoring ability, her defensive ability. There are so many things she brings to the table. Once she gets that back, this team will be different."