Hiedeman scores 24, Collier 20 as Lynx hold off Valkyries 78-72
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Natisha Hiedeman matched her career-high with 24 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx to a 78-72 win over the Golden State Valkyries on Saturday night.
The Lynx (33-9), who had already secured the top seed for the playoffs, used a big run to close the third quarter to grab the lead. Veronica Burton converted a three-point play with 45 seconds left go pull the Valkyries within 74-72 but Napheesa Collier followed with a short baseline jumper.
Kayla McBride clinched it with two free throws after a turnover.
Collier finished with 20 points. Minnesota rested Alanna Smith but Jessica Shepard stepped in for the start and had 12 points and 13 rebounds. Courtney Williams added 14 points.
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Janelle Salaun, Illana Rupert and Kaila Charles had 15 points and Burton 14 for the Valkyries. Golden State sold out every home game this season and set a WNBA attendance record averaging 18,604.
The Valkyries took a 36-31 halftime lead as Salaum hit a 3 and Charles had a layup in the final minute.
Trailing by six with less than three minutes to go in the third quarter the Lynx went off, starting with a Collier 3-pointer. A flagrant foul was called when Hiedeman was fouled on a 3-pointer. She made all the free throws for the lead and on the ensuing possession Shepard had a putback to make it 55-52. Hiedeman added two more 3-pointers for a 16-0 run and a 61-52 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Golden State is at Seattle on Tuesday when Minnesota is at Indiana.
