MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 Courtney Williams scored a game-high 23 points, Kayla McBride scored 21, and Napheesa Collier added 18 points and nine rebounds as the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 82-69, on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinal series.<\/p>\n
The Lynx trailed by as many as nine and faced a seven-point deficit at halftime. As Phoenix threatened to even the game down the stretch, it was Williams and McBride making big shots to keep the Mercury at bay. McBride drilled a shot from deep to put the Lynx up 73-67 with under four minutes to play, and Minnesota never looked back.<\/p>\n
Game 2 is Tuesday in Minneapolis before the teams head to Phoenix for Game 3 on Friday.<\/p>\n
After surrendering 47 points in the first half, Minnesota\u2019s players came together at halftime to brainstorm ways to slow Phoenix down. The veteran Williams was a vocal voice in that conversation, according to head coach Cheryl Reeve.<\/p>\n
Williams then went out and provided a spark for the Lynx in the second half, recording a career-high five steals while scoring 12 of her points after halftime.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen she\u2019s out there hooping and confident, it\u2019s contagious,\u201d McBride said. \u201cIt just becomes a lot of fun out there playing the game within the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kahleah Copper led Phoenix with 22 points and Alyssa Thomas had 18. Mercury leading scorer Satou Sabally was held to just 10 points.<\/p>\n