SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2017 SPORTS BASKETBALL Fowles scores 25 as Lynx defeat Fever with WNBA record score ST PAUL: Sylvia Fowles scored 25 points Minnesota’s previous game, a loss to Odyssey Sims added 15 points and 10 Sugar Rodgers added 13 points, Nayo Mystics (16-12) at bay. Camille Little and the Minnesota Lynx shattered the Seattle on Wednesday night, because of assists. Ogwumike and Parker made Raincock-Ekunwe 12 and Bria Hartley 11 added 15 points on 5-of-5 shooting, and WNBA record for margin of victory at 59 a sprained ankle. Renee Montgomery layups to open the second overtime and for the Liberty (16-12). They also Stephanie Talbot made all three of her 3- points, beating the Indiana Fever 111-52 added 20 points, and Jia Perkins had 15 help Los Angeles (21-8) pull away. snapped the Sun’s eight-game home point attempts and scored 12 points. on Friday night. The Lynx set another points and seven rebounds for the Ogwumike had a jumper with 33 sec- winning streak. The Liberty, with the Brittney Griner, playing in her second league record with a 37-0 run that league-leading Lynx (22-5). They hit onds in the first overtime to tie at 99. WNBA’s top field-goal defense, held the game after missing eight with injuries, began at 4:54 of the first quarter when exactly 100 points three times this sea- The Sky (11-17) rallied from 10 points Sun (18-10) to 34 percent. added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Minnesota led 22-9 and ended with son before Friday’s effort that fell three down with 2:38 left in regulation, with Alexis Jones’ layup for a 59-9 lead, also shy of the team record. Stefanie Dolson hitting two 3-pointers in MERCURY 89, MYSTICS 79 STORM 79, STARS 78 at the 4:54 mark, in the second quarter. the final 11 seconds - the second with 3 Diana Taurasi scored 14 of her 25 Breanna Stewart had 22 points and Minnesota broke the margin record of SPARKS 115, SKY 106, 2OT seconds left to tie it at 88. points in the fourth quarter to help nine rebounds and Seattle escaped 46 set by Seattle in a 111-65 win over Nneka Ogwumike scored 32 points Phoenix Mercury pull away against with a victory over San Antonio when Tulsa on Aug. 7, 2010. The Lynx, who and Candace Parker added 29 in Los LIBERTY 82, SUN 70 Washington. Taurasi hit a jumper with Kelsey Plum’s basket with 0.8 seconds were 20-2 two weeks ago, but 1-3 since Angeles’ double-overtime victory over Tina Charles had 24 points and seven five minutes to go to give Phoenix (15- left was ruled a 2-pointer after a review losing point guard Lindsay Whalen to a Chicago. Ogwumike added 10 rebounds and New York beat 13) the lead for good at 71-70. With the showed her toe on the 3-point line. hand injury, also played without for- rebounds, and Parker had 12. Chelsea Connecticutto extend its winning streak Mercury up 10, Taurasi added four free Jewell Loyd added 18 points for Seattle ward Rebekkah Brunson. She left Gray had 20 points and 10 assists, and to four and end the Sun’s run at six. throws in the final minute to keep the (13-16).— AP McIlroy to return for FedEx Cup playoffs NEW YORK: Rory McIlroy has decided his the World Golf Championship at health is good enough for him to start the Bridgestone and then tied for 22nd at the FedEx Cup playoffs next week in New York. PGA. He revealed after his final round that McIlroy had said after he finished at the he has felt spasms the previous two weeks PGA Championship that he could feel a as he increased his practice. “It’s a tough back muscle spasm in recent weeks as he one because I go there and play and shoot practiced more to get ready for the final decent scores,” he said at Quail Hollow. “But major of the year. He said before leaving when I come off the course, I feel my left Quail Hollow he could return in a few rhomboid going into spasm. (The) inside of weeks or not until next year. my left arm goes numb.” His manager said in a text message that He was headed home to Northern McIlroy plans to play The Northern Trust, Ireland to meet with his trainer and decide which starts next Thursday at Glen Oaks on when or if he should play. It was not clear Long Island. Harry Diamond, McIlroy’s best how many playoff events McIlroy would friend from Northern Ireland, will remain as play. He was No. 41 in the FedEx Cup, and his caddie through the playoffs. the defending champion in two weeks at McIlroy won two playoff events last year, the TPC Boston. The top 30 after three including the Tour Championship, to cap- events make it to the Tour Championship. ture the FedEx Cup and its $10 million Asked at Quail Hollow why he would bonus. That was his last victory. He suffered consider playing, McIlroy said he already a hairline rib fracture in South Africa, his has missed a lot of time this year with the first tournament of 2017, and missed seven lingering injury. The Northern Trust would weeks to let it heal. But after getting mar- be his 12th start on the PGA Tour this sea- ried in April, he says he practiced too much son dating to last October. He has played too quickly to get ready for The Players only 13 times worldwide in 2017. He had Championship, and he wound up taking a said the “next big thing” on his radar was in five-week break to let it heal. April at the Masters, the only major keep- McIlroy plans to be at Yankee Stadium ing him from the career Grand Slam. on Tuesday to celebrate his FedEx Cup title “If I’m capable of playing, I feel like why and commemorate a $1 million donation in shouldn’t you?” he said after the PGA. “But MASON: Karolina Pliskova, of the Czech Republic, returns to Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tourna- his name to the St. Jude Children’s Research then at the same time, if you’re not capable ment, Friday, in Mason, Ohio. — AP Hospital. It includes him hitting golf balls of playing at your best, why should you from a suite to targets on the field. play? We’ll see what happens. Assess my The four-time major champion tied for options in the next few days and see where TENNIS fourth at the British Open, tied for fifth at we go from there.” —AP GOLF Pliskova sweeps into US sweeps Solheim Cup fourball matches, takes three-point lead Cincinnati s-finals WEST DES MOINES: The favored Ciganda and Emily Pedersen 6 and 5, and Americans found themselves trailing Kang and Michelle Wie topped Madelene MASON: Defending champion Karolina Pliskova won, but I’m sure she feels like it was a great Stephens also pulled off a two-win day to reach Europe after a sluggish start to the Solheim Sagstrom and Jodi Ewart Shadoff 3 and 1. pulled off a doubleheader sweep Friday at the match as well, because it was a tough battle and the semifinals. She beat Ekaterina Makarova in Cup. The U.S. settled down on Friday after- In the other fourball matches, Brittany Western & Southern Open, reaching the semifi- very hot out there.” three sets, and then ate lunch, took a nap, woke noon, pulling away with a record-setting Lincicome and Brittany Lang beat Masson nals by winning a pair of matches with little rest Muguruza’s win came less than 24 hours after up and knocked off Julia Goerges in straight fourball performance. and Florentyna Parker 3 and 2, and Stacy in-between. Rafael Nadal couldn’t do the same. she spent 2 hours, 18 minutes on the court and sets. “The day is just like a blur,” Stephens said. The United States swept the afternoon Lewis and Gerina Piller edged Charley Hull Pliskova completed a match that was suspended fought off three match points to beat Madison “I’m ready to get dinner and get in bed because fourball matches to take a 5 1/2-2 1/2 lead and Georgia Hall 2 and 1. In the morning overnight because of rain, beating qualifier Keys in the round of 16. Muguruza has reached I’m so tired.” Today, she’ll face No. 2 Simona at Des Moines Golf and Country Club. foursomes, Americans Cristie Kerr and Lexi Camila Giorgi in three sets. After a quick turn- the semifinals of two of the three tournaments Halep, who beat Johanna Konta 6-4, 7-6 (1). Lizette Salas and US newcomer Danielle Thompson rallied to halve with Hull and around, she needed only 67 minutes to beat a she’s entered since winning Wimbledon. “I played the best match so far this tourna- Kang each won two matches, teaming to Mel Reid. For Europe, Hall and Anna rested Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-4 for a sweep “You know, I’m happy with the way I’m play- ment,” said Halep, who was slowed by a knee beat Carlota Ciganda and Caroline Masson Nordqvist beat Paula Creamer and Austin into the semis. “The first match helped me a little ing and the way I’m going through these tough injury earlier this season.