By Kayte Ledbetter
The Dallas Wings (18-15) fell, 91-86, to the Minnesota Lynx (16-17) Tuesday night at Target Center
The Wings struggled from the jump, totaling their fewest points in a first quarter this year, as no Wings’ player recorded more than one field goal in the opening quarter, each starter had tallied one to combine for all 11 Dallas points.
Napheesa Collier recorded 10 of the Lynx’s 18 points in the opening quarter on 5-6 (83.3%) shooting.
In the second quarter, Minnesota started off with two baskets to extend their lead to 11 points, but Dallas bounced back with an 8-0 run to cut the lead down to just three points. The Lynx called called a timeout, but the break seemed to fuel the Wings even more. Dallas outscored Minnesota 16-9 over the next four minutes, forcing another Lynx timeout as the Wings took over with a four-point lead. The timeout seemed to go the other way this time, fueling a 7-0 Minnesota run to close out the quarter, including a buzzer beater three from Bridget Carleton.
As the Wings had made just two field goals in the first three minutes of the third quarter, Minnesota had extended their lead to as many as eight points, but a 12-2 Dallas run during the backend of the quarter regained them a two-point lead. Despite the Dallas effort to find their first lead at a quarter break, another Minnesota buzzer beater found the Wings at a disadvantage leading into the final quarter.
To begin the fourth quarter, Minnesota embarked on an 8-0 run to extend their lead back to nine points. Throughout their efforts in the final quarter, the Lynx gained as much as a 12-point lead at the 2:31 mark, but the Wings used a 10-2 run to their advantage over the next two minutes to find themselves within striking distance. Dallas trailed by six with 25.4 to play in the ballgame and got it to a two-point deficit with 23.4 on the clock after two fouls found the Wings at the charity stripe.
The final 35 seconds saw a combined 19 points and featured two threes from Arike Ogunbowale.
All five starters finished in double figures, an effort led by Satou Sabally who finished with 22 points. Sabally additionally finished with seven assists and seven rebounds, tying her season high with five offensive rebounds.
Arike Ogunbowale totaled 20 points on the night that included four threes. With her three at 1:54 in the first quarter, she became the second fastest player in WNBA history to reach 3,000 points, accomplishing the feat in 150 games. Her 150 games are second only to Elena Delle Donne who accomplished the feat in 148 games. Ogunbowale’s 20 points represent her 18th 20+ point game of the season, which are the fourth most games with such numbers this season.
Natasha Howard totaled 16 points and seven rebounds, while Crystal Dangerfield finished the night with 12 points, recording the 1,000th point of her career in the process.
Teaira McCowan recorded her ninth double-double of the season on 10 points and a season high 16 rebounds. Her nine double doubles rank the ninth most in the league this season.
Napheesa Collier totaled 29 points on 68.8% shooting tonight. She was just one of two starters to reach 20 points as Kayla McBride recorded 21 points that included 5-5 shooting from the free throw line. The Minnesota bench was busy providing 25 points for the Lynx, an effort Carleton spearheaded with 14 points on 5-8 shooting that included four baskets from deep.
Dallas will face the Lynx once again, this time on their home court, on Thursday, August 24 at 7pm CT with coverage on Bally Sports Southwest Extra.