Lynx point guard deals with jitters in her first pro test

ST. JOSEPH, MINN. — Destiny. That is her father's theory on why Lynx rookie Renee Montgomery is a point guard.

Her oldest sister, Nachette, towers over her at 5-11. Middle sister Nicole is 5-8. Renee, eight and four years, respectively, younger than her siblings, is the shortest.

"The genes got weak along the line," said Montgomery, who is 5-6 1/2, 139 pounds. "My dad says [I] was meant to be a point guard. It worked out well."

So good the Lynx made the University of Connecticut star the fourth overall pick in the WNBA draft in April.

On Saturday, Montgomery made her public debut as a Lynx. She had seven points, three assists, three rebounds and a jittery seven turnovers as the Lynx lost 68-51 to Indiana at the College of St. Benedict.

Quanitra Hollingsworth, a 6-5 center and also a rookie, led Minnesota with 14 points. Veteran Katie Douglas had 19 for the Fever.

Lynx coach Don Zierden said Montgomery and several of his rookies struggled. "Their first taste [of the WNBA] was against a pretty good defensive team," he said. "Indiana is always in the top three or four defensively."

Montgomery, born and raised in West Virginia, was UConn's captain the past three seasons and is the only Huskies player in the top 10 in career points, assists, steals and three-pointers.

As a senior, Montgomery led UConn to a 39-0 record. Her jersey was retired Feb. 15.

Her father, Ron, a former football player at West Virginia State, was the biggest influence in developing her skills. He built her a court at home and started working with her on defense at age 7 or so. "I thought it was so cool just to slide around everywhere," Montgomery said.

Another year, midrange jumpers was the focus.

"He worked with me every day, right when he got home from work" at a chemical plant, Montgomery said. "I had to make sure my homework was done."

Her high school team lost only four or five games in four years and won three state championships. Her UConn teams were 138-11.

The Lynx, meanwhile, has two winning seasons in 10 years.