Lynx win home finale, stay in playoff hunt

With their second victory in a row, the Lynx (14-18) moved into a fourth-place tie with San Antonio in the WNBA Western Conference with two games left. The Silver Stars, though, have the head-to-head tiebreaker.

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune

Last update: September 10, 2009 - 12:55 AM

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LYNX 75, DETROIT 72 • Up next: 9:30 p.m. Friday at Los Angeles • 106.1-FM

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The Lynx looked out of sync and unlucky -- shots were rimming out -- for most of the fourth quarter on Wednesday night against the red-hot Detroit Shock.

Despite being desperate for a victory, Minnesota went almost 8 1/2 minutes without a basket in the final quarter at Target Center. Yet, in the end, the Lynx rallied to win 75-72 before an announced crowd of 7,423.

Little-used Anna Montanana made the biggest shot of the night for the Lynx. She grabbed a rebound and banked in a short shot with 29.6 seconds left. That put Minnesota ahead 71-69.

Montanana, a star in Spain who was signed after the All-Star break, had a season-high 12 points, plus four rebounds and three assists.

"It feels amazing because I have been struggling," the 6-1 forward said. "It was hard for me to adjust to a new league even though everyone was helping me through it. Tonight was just great because now I know I can help this team."

Lynx coach Jen Gillom said the team's defense in the fourth quarter was a huge difference, too.

"We didn't let the other team score," Gillom said.

At least not enough to take command. After two Lynx free throws, the Shock went on a 13-0 run to take a 69-64 lead.

Guard Renee Montgomery's three-pointer with 1:38 left broke the Lynx's scoring drought from the field and started a 9-0 run.

The Shock (16-16) had won seven of eight, but guard Deanna Nolan, the Player of the Week in the Eastern Conference the past two weeks, was a woeful 3-for-19 from the field and had nine points.

Six players scored in double figures for the Lynx, who played without starting center Nicky Anosike for the second game in a row. She has a partially torn meniscus in her left knee and won't be on the Lynx's season-ending road trip to Los Angeles and Sacramento.

Montanana, Montgomery, Rashanda McCants all had 12 points. Kelly Miller, who mostly guarded Nolan, added 11, and Charde Houston and Candice Wiggins had 10 apiece.

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