MINNEAPOLIS — Nabeesa Collier tied the WNBA single-game playoff record with 42 points and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Phoenix Mercury 101-88 on Wednesday night.
Collier made one of two free throws with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter to tie Breanna Stewart and Angel McCaughtry for a 42-point game. It was one of Collier’s two misses from the free throw line on 14 attempts with 58.3 seconds remaining.
Collier scored 38 points in Game 1, becoming the first player in WNBA history to score 38-plus points in back-to-back playoff games. She also set the WNBA record for most points (80) in a two-game playoff stretch. Collier scored 38 points in the 2nd with 5:55 left in the fourth.
Minnesota plays Sunday against Connecticut, which advanced to its sixth straight semifinal after an 87-81 win over Indiana earlier Wednesday.
Kayla McBride had 15 points for Minnesota, while Bridget Carleton and Alana Smith each had 12 points. Courtney Williams had 11 points.
Brittney Griner scored 24 points for Phoenix and Diana Taurasi finished with 10 before fouling out with 2:34 left. Taurasi received a standing ovation from the Minnesota crowd before Collier arrived near the Mercury bench to shake hands with his fellow former UConn star.
Taurasi did not announce this would be her final year in the WNBA, but the Mercury honored her at their final home regular season game.
Collier scored 11 of Minnesota’s 21 first-quarter points on five of six shots. Collier finished the half with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting to help Minnesota take a 49-47 lead into halftime. The rest of his teammates combined to go 10 of 26 off the field.
Officials reviewed a physical play involving Carleton and Phoenix guard Sophie Cunningham in the third quarter. Williams was also assessed a technical foul. After it was all over, McBride knocked down a wide-open 3-pointer to give Minnesota a 58-53 lead.
Williams gave Minnesota its first double-digit lead of the second half at 72-60 with 2:17 left in the third quarter. The Lynx led by double digits throughout the fourth quarter.
Minnesota went 5-1 against the Mercury this season.
It was Collier’s third straight playoff game with 30 points, tying A’ja Wilson for the longest streak in WNBA history after scoring 31 points in a Game 3 loss against Connecticut last season.
