Lynx defeat Miracle in WNBA action

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Minnesota Lynx coach Brian Agler liked the way his team started while Orlando Miracle coach Carolyn Peck liked the way hers finished.

But the start overwhelmed the finish as Minnesota won, 71-57.

Minnesota stretched a 12-3 opening-game run into a 41-17 halftime lead.

It was too much for Orlando to overcome, but it wasn't for lack of trying. After shooting 22.2 percent -- leading to a franchise-low for points in a half -- Orlando shot 40.6 percent in the second half and finished the game on a 15-4 run.

Peck said she'd take the final result.

''When I compare the first half to the second half, I look at offensive rebounds and turnovers,'' Peck said. ''We just dug ourselves an ugly hole in the first half. We played hard and never quit. We went to our bench in the second half and played 94 feet of solid defense, which was promising.''

Agler got solid production from Betty Lennox, who had 24 points and seven rebounds, and Katie Smith, who scored 23. Smith, who made five of nine 3-pointers, also added five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

''Katie is a great player,'' Agler said. ''She's proven that, and will prove it this year. This was probably a breakout game for her. She had done those things in the exhibition season, but hadn't done them in the regular season, until tonight.

''I think that it was a very good win for us, on the road against a very good team like Orlando. We got off to a very good start.''

Taj McWilliams scored 18 points as the only Miracle player to reach double figures. She also had a game-high nine rebounds. Orlando starters Adrienne Johnson and Shannon Johnson were a combined 4-for-22 from the field and forward Nykesha Sales only played 13 minutes after spraining an ankle.

MINNESOTA (71)

Smith 7-17 4-5 23, Dickerson 0-0 0-0 0, Folkl 2-4 1-1 5, Lennox 9-18 5-6 24, Brumfield 1-5 2-2 4, Daley 1-3 1-2 4, Lloyd-Curry 1-5 0-0 2, Paye 0-1 0-0 0, Stires 4-5 0-0 9. Totals 25-58 13-16 71.

ORLANDO (57)

Sales 0-3 0-0 0, McWilliams 8-12 2-4 18, dos Santos 1-3 1-1 3, A.Johnson 2-12 2-2 7, S.Johnson 2-10 1-2 6, Powell 2-4 3-5 7, Hicks 0-0 3-4 3, Roland 1-7 1-2 3, McGhee 1-2 0-0 2, Wait 2-6 2-2 8. Totals 19-59 15-22 57.

Minnesota 41 30 -- 71

Orlando 17 40 -- 57

3-Point Goals--Minnesota 8-24 (Smith 5-9, Daley 1-2, Stires 1-2, Lennox 1-5, Folkl 0-1, Paye 0-1, Brumfield 0-1, Lloyd-Curry 0-3), Orlando 4-18 (Wait 2-4, S.Johnson 1-3, A.Johnson 1-7, McGhee 0-1, McWilliams 0-1, Sales 0-2). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Minnesota 38 (Lennox 7), Orlando 45 (McWilliams 9). Assists--Minnesota 14 (Lloyd-Curry, Smith 3), Orlando 10 (S.Johnson 3). Total fouls--Minnesota 22, Orlando 19. A--5,731