Liberty-Lynx Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN

(AP) -- After getting off to the best start in WNBA history, the Minnesota Lynx came up short for the first time over the weekend.

They'll try to bounce back Thursday night at home, where they haven't lost since the New York Liberty last came to town.

Minnesota averaged 85.8 points in winning its first 10 games before losing 65-62 at Seattle on Sunday. The Lynx had a chance to send the game into overtime despite trailing by as many as 17 points in the second quarter and shooting 37.5 percent, but Maya Moore missed a deep 3-point attempt as time expired.

"I felt like it was on target, just a little short," Moore said. "With one second, having to inbound it and catch and shoot, I thought it was a great look. But it shouldn't have come down to that."

Moore had a team-high 14 points and Seimone Augustus scored 12 as the Lynx's two leading scorers combined to shoot 10 of 30.

"We felt like there were so many opportunities," Moore added. " ... There were so many things in the entire game that could've changed things. But lesson learned. I think this team will definitely take this one, remember it and use it to help us to be better in the future."

Minnesota now returns home, where it's won 11 straight - including last season's title run - since falling 78-62 to New York on Sept. 2. The Liberty shot 13 of 26 from 3-point range in that game and were led by Leilani Mitchell, who made six 3s and scored 24 points.

New York (4-7) is coming off its fourth win in six games, 73-60 in Atlanta on Tuesday. Cappie Pondexter had 14 points and a season-high 13 assists for the Liberty, who were coming off the most lopsided defeat in franchise history, 97-55 at Connecticut on Friday.

"I brought a great deal of energy tonight, which has been inconsistent with us," Pondexter said. "I feel like when we play with a lot of energy it allows us to play both ends of the floor the way we really want to."

Allowing an Eastern Conference-worst 80.6 points per game, New York held the Dream to 35.3 percent shooting.

"When (Pondexter) plays like she did and we play good team defense, we can win games on the road," coach John Whisenant said. "We demand that she does her part on defense as well as offense. We don't have any other options. She has to perform well for the Liberty to do well. It's that simple."

Leading the team with 18.3 points per game, Pondexter scored a combined 22 on 4-of-26 shooting in two matchups versus Minnesota last season.

New York is 3-1 this year when she scores at least 20 points.

Updated June 20, 2012