Moore, Lynx Top Liberty 79-69 To Remain Undefeated
NEW YORK (AP) — Maya Moore and the Minnesota Lynx haven't lost yet this season. That doesn't mean they don't have things they need to work on.
Moore scored 25 points and the Lynx remained unbeaten with a 79-69 victory over the New York Liberty on Tuesday night.
Minnesota (6-0) built a 23-point lead in the second half before letting New York rally within six in the final 2 minutes. It was the second straight game the Lynx nearly blew a 20-point lead.
"It's something we definitely are aware of and are working on," Moore said. "Every team is going to make a run and we can't be as complacent with big leads."
The Lynx are four wins short of matching their own WNBA record for most consecutive victories to start the season, set in 2012. They also snapped a three-game losing skid to New York, winning at Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2010.
"We are just taking it one game at a time," said Seimone Augustus, who added 13 points for Minnesota. "We are trying to get better every game."
Minnesota took it right to New York, building a 28-11 lead after the first quarter thanks to Moore. She had 11 points, hitting five of her first six shots in the opening period.
"Maya was great in the first quarter and we knew they were going to try and deliver the first punch," said the Liberty's Tina Charles, who had 23 points and 11 rebounds.
New York (2-3) rallied within 31-25 in the second quarter with Moore on the bench. She subbed back in and the Lynx, who are the unanimous top choice in the AP WNBA power poll, built a 15-point halftime lead.
Minnesota led by 23 in the second half before New York cut it to 73-67 on a three-point play by Sugar Rodgers with just over 2 minutes left. Renee Montgomery answered with a pullup jumper and the Liberty could get no closer than six points the rest of the way. Montgomery finished with 10 points, hitting five of her six shots. It was a good day for the veteran guard as she also hit the halfcourt shot in shootaround this morning to end practice.
The Lynx have been criss-crossing the country to start the season, winning four of their first six games on the road, including victories in Seattle, Phoenix and New York the past nine days.
New York, which is fourth in the power poll, has dropped three straight games in the regular season for the first time since 2014. The Liberty finish off their five-game homestand on Friday against Indiana.
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