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Lynx-Shock Preview

Jun 3, 2010 - 7:43 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Minnesota (2-5) at Tulsa (2-3), 8:00 p.m. EDT

While the WNBA season is less than three weeks old, the Minnesota Lynx and Tulsa Shock are quite familiar with each other.

In their third meeting, the Lynx visit the Shock on Friday night with each club looking to post back-to-back wins for the first time this year.

Minnesota (2-5) and Tulsa (2-3) have split their first two meetings. The Lynx won 80-74 on May 15 to spoil the Shock's debut in their new city. Eight days later, Tulsa responded with its first win, 94-82 win in Minneapolis.

Tulsa won for the second time in three games, 79-74 over Indiana on Saturday. Reserve Amber Holt scored 16 points while Natasha Lacy finished with 15, including an 18-foot jumper in the final minute as the Shock earned their first home victory since relocating from Detroit.

"Down the stretch, we've had a hard time as far as finishing games," Lacy said. "I felt like there was a monkey lifted off our back because we were finally ahead instead of playing catch-up the whole time."

Holt has come off the bench both times this season against Minnesota, and averaged 14.0 points. Black has 27 rebounds versus the Lynx with 17 coming during the win in Minneapolis.

The Shock will be without guard Alexis Hornbuckle, who has been suspended two games by the WNBA after pleading guilty to a charge of driving while impaired by alcohol. Hornbuckle, who is averaging 5.4 points and 3.2 assists, will also miss Saturday's game in Chicago.

The Lynx are coming off a 92-82 win over defending WNBA champion Phoenix on Tuesday. After starting for the first six games in her brief career, rookie Monica Wright scored a career-high 32 points after coming off the bench.

"Obviously, Monica prefers to come off the bench. That was her statement today," joked Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve. "It's a start. It's one game and it felt really good."

Wright has averaged 14.5 points versus Tulsa so far. With high-scoring guard Seimone Augustus still out following abdominal surgery, Wright is second on the team in scoring with 14.4 points, trailing Charde Houston (15.9).

Minnesota got a boost in the backcourt from Candace Wiggins, who scored eight in her season debut after missing five weeks due to knee surgery. She finished with 15 points and six assists in two games against the Shock last year.

Minnesota and Tulsa will wrap up their season series with a home-and-home set June 18 and 19.