Lynx: Harding tries to regain form

After returning from an injury, the point guard helped the Lynx end a five-game losing streak in Tuesday's game.

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune

Last update: June 26, 2008 - 8:04 AM

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Lynx coach Don Zierden has started the same five players all 13 games this season, but Lindsey Harding appears ready to regain her point guard spot.

Harding, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft last season out of Duke, was a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year in 2007 until season-ending surgery on her left knee kept her out the last 14 games. She finished second to Chicago's Armintie Price.

Harding missed the first 10 games this season because of a stress fracture in her left kneecap. She played for the first time last weekend in losses to Detroit and Houston but was ineffective: 1-for-13 from the field, six turnovers, two assists.

"I felt like I was a rookie," Harding said of when Zierden put her in against Detroit. "I had not played in the WNBA since July. It's been a long time."

Harding was much better Tuesday night. On her first basket, she split two defenders on a layup late in the third quarter in the Lynx's 91-69 rout of the New York Liberty.

Harding finished 2-for-3 from the field and 3-for-4 from the foul line for seven points. She also had three assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block in nearly 21 minutes.

"I never really was focused on scoring," Harding said. "The main thing is, coming in, we have great scorers -- try to get them the ball. The more I play the more confidence I get."

Harding said one key to beating New York was getting an early lead. "We didn't get down," Harding said. "A lot of the losses, we found ourselves behind and had to fight back in the last minute. We set the tone [against the Liberty] and we kept it."

The victory ended a five-game losing streak. "Obviously, we wanted to get back on the winning track," forward Nicole Ohlde said.

Last season, the Lynx opened the season with seven losses and later had a 10-game losing streak.

"We just knew we needed to stick together," Ohlde said.

Etc.

• Lynx guard Anna DeForge, in her seventh WNBA season, made her 300th career three-pointer against New York. She is the 13th league player to reach that milestone.

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