Bench gives boost as Lynx win in Los Angeles

Down points in the first quarter Natisha Hiedeman and the Lynx bench provided a much-needed spark The starters kept the mojo going in the third quarter and Minnesota got back in the win column on the second challenge of a back-to-back set Hiedeman tied a season-high with points off the bench in the first half to lead four players with double figures in a - win over the Sparks in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon We have a inadequate players that aren t playing as well as they want to play or at their best T s timing of this championship is what our starters needed mentioned coach Cheryl Reeve If T wasn t in our locker room in contemporary times this battle might have turned out differently She willed our association to shake off that early start and really gave us a bounce in our step Win came hours after the Lynx were out-toughed and outscored - down the stretch in a - loss Wednesday at Phoenix We knew that we just had to come in here and be focused explained Hiedeman whose group was playing its sixth event in days Hiedeman scored points in less than four minutes of action in the opening frame She s just a such a spark on the bench stated Napheesa Collier who had points and eight rebounds She was a plus- highest of the encounter We feel that when we re on T is so quick the way that she s able to push the pace especially in transition getting in the lane spreading it out when she s open taking threes knocking those down She s such a dynamic player She is what makes the club go especially when we need that extra spark coming off the bench The seventh-year athlete finished of from the field after going for and scoring points in her first four July games If the shots are there I m going to take them This day they were there and we were busting out in transition she noted I don t think my battle is based off points it s more so running the offense and finding players The Minnesota bench had of its points in the first half as the Lynx took a - lead into the break after outscoring Los Angeles - in the second quarter I m really really happy the bench gave the encouragement that it did because our starters absolutely needed it to kind of help get us going again Reeve revealed Up by late in a third quarter where the Lynx outscored Los Angeles - Minnesota saw the lead dwindle to - less than three minutes into the fourth quarter before an Alanna Smith basket off a feed from Courtney Williams and a Williams jumper pushed the lead back to The Lynx lead remained in double digits until the final minute of play Our squad does a great job of staying together and keeping winning games the main thing explained Collier Williams finished with points and seven assists and Smith finished with points Bridget Carleton had a season-best six assists Minnesota won all four games against the Sparks - this season and has won of the past meetings since August