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Shock outlast Lynx 92-79

Jun 5, 2010 - 3:46 AM TULSA, Okla.(AP) -- The Tulsa Shock are taking shape with the up-tempo offense utilized by coach Nolan Richardson.

Sholanda Robinson scored 20 points and led five players in double figures and Tulsa topped the Minnesota Lynx 92-79 on Friday night.

Plenette Pierson scored 18, Shanna Crossley had 16, Natasha Lacy 13 and Amber Holt, who started her first game, finished with 13.

"I was trying to be aggressive with something that suits me well," Robinson said. "It was something I've been trying to do all season. It was just a matter of putting it all together in one game and I finally did."

Former Olympian Marion Jones had two points in almost nine minutes.

"The fact we came out with so much energy and so much intensity and applied a lot of pressure," Jones said. It feels good to contribute more to the win."

The Shock, who lost to Minnesota at home in their opener last month, got even with strong offense. They shot 50 percent from the field and were 9 of 17 from 3-point range.

"I was very proud of our ladies," Richardson said. "They played with a lot of heart. Sholanda had what I call a 'show-me night.' Amber played well, Pierson came in and became dominant for us. All of them that went into the ballgame really did the things that we needed to do."

Tulsa also played strong defense, forcing the Lynx into plenty of missed shots. Minnesota was limited to 38.2 percent from the field and 4 of 14 on 3-pointers.

Rebekka Brunson led Minnesota with a game-high 23 points. Candice Wiggins scored 22 in her first game back from injury, and Nicky Anosike had 16.

"I think our downfall tonight was we didn't get the stops we needed to," Brunson said. "We didn't get back in transition. They got a lot of open looks and they got the free throw line and we had a lot of mishaps on the defensive end."

Holt hit a 3-pointer in a 13-6 run that extended Tulsa's lead to 69-54 going into the fourth quarter. The Shock would continue to roll and led 78-56 - the largest margin of the game - after Crossley made a free throw as a result of a technical foul on Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve.

The Shock had to play without Alexis Hornbuckle, who is serving a two-game suspension due to a driving while impaired incident last year in Detroit. Hornbuckle, who has started four games, must also sit out Saturday's road game at Chicago.

Holt started in place of Hornbuckle.

Tulsa led 23-19 at the end of the first quarter and expanded the lead in the second. It led 49-40 at halftime after a 3-pointer by Robinson with 42.1 seconds left.

The Shock struggled on offense in the third period as Minnesota got within 54-48 with 4:38 remaining.