She scored 26 points, making 11 of 19 shots. She grabbed 11 rebounds and had three assists, making her the first player in team history to have multiple 25-point, 10-rebound performances in the playoffs. It was, Collier said, the law of averages.
“I think they were normal shots I usually make,” the former University of Connecticut standout said of her shooting in the first two games of the series. “In crunch time I had to be aggressive, especially in the paint at one end and in coverage on the other. I knew I had to get up and pressure.”
The Lynx put the pressure on the Sun and put themselves on the cusp of a return to the Finals by finding their offensive rhythm without losing their defensive resolve.
They shot 57.4%, which is rather incredible considering they went 5-for-15 on threes. That means the Lynx hit 30 of 46 two-point shots. Four of five starters were in double figures, eight players scored four points or more, the Lynx bench outscored Sun reserves 16-4.
The Sun? they shot 41.1% and — with Mabrey going 1-for-11 from behind the arc — made only three of 20 three-pointers.
The Lynx have won two in a row since opening the series with a loss. A report surfaced Friday that Reeve had confronted Sun players for excessive celebration after that game. Asked about it Friday, Reeve chalked it up to competitive coaches and players in a competitive playoff series. Courtney Williams — Robin to Collier’s Batman on Friday — said she didn’t even see it. Connecticut coach Stephanie White shrugged it off. Neither Alyssa Thomas (13 points, nine rebounds, seven assists) nor Brionna Jones (21 points) commented.
