The San Antonio Stars head to Minnesota to battle the defending WNBA champions Lynx. The Lynx (13-3) will be trying to snap a three-game losing streak, while the Stars (4-12) will try to win a second straight game. Here are three things to watch.
- Will Moriah Jefferson build off her career performance vs. Indiana?
Against the Fever, Jefferson exploded for a career-high 31 points, including the game winning putback in overtime. It will be important for her to continue producing at a high level on offense, as she is one of the more capable scorers on the team. Additionally, Jefferson had a five steals in last night’s overtime win, which is also a new career-high. This season, she is currently fourth in the WNBA in steals, averaging 1.6 steals a game.
- How will Maya Moore be defended?
Moore is currently fifth in the WNBA in scoring, averaging 18.8 points per game. A vital part of the Lynx offense, the Stars will need to find a way to limit her production. Moore is coming off a 24-point performance vs. the Liberty, however, it was not enough to lead Minnesota to victory. If the Stars can limit Moore’s touches, it would force her teammates to carry the load.
- Can the Stars put together a solid 40 minutes?
In order to stay close, the Stars will need additional scoring threats to assist Jefferson and McBride. Haley Peters and Kayla Alexander have been able to add contributions at time, but consistency from the bench has been lacking. Facing one of the better offensive teams in the WNBA, it will be important to have more threats to counter their attack. Defensively, the Stars will have to put pressure on the Lynx, which could lead to turnovers and bad shots. If the Stars can create offense from their defense, it will keep the game competitive.
