Augustus leads Minnesota to record night

Rookie Seimone Augustus scored a season-high 26 points and the Minnesota Lynx broke the WNBA record for points in a game with a 114-71 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks Wednesday night.

Augustus, who has carried most of the scoring load by herself this season, finally got some help from her teammates to help Minnesota get its first win of the season, and in convincing fashion. Six Lynx finished in double figures to slow down a road-weary Sparks squad playing its fifth game away from home to start the season.

Kristen Mann scored a career-high 18 for the Lynx, who made a franchise-record 15 3-pointers on 22 attempts. Svetlana Abrosimova added a season-high 21 points on 8-for-9 shooting.

The 43-point margin of victory was the largest in franchise history, easily surpassing the previous best of 27 points against San Antonio on July 25, 2003. Minnesota’s 114 points surpassed the previous WNBA record of 111, set by Detroit on June 18, 2000.

Monarchs 87, Storm 66: At Sacramento, Calif., Yolanda Griffith had 21 points and eight rebounds, and Ticha Penicheiro added 15 points in Sacramento’s win over Seattle.

Nicole Powell and rookie Scholanda Dorrell scored 12 points apiece for the Monarchs, who have won three of their first four to open defense of their WNBA title. Lauren Jackson had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Storm.

Comets 73, Fever 60: At Houston, Dominique Canty scored a career-high 24 points to lead Houston by Indiana.

Tina Thompson and Sheryl Swoopes added 12 points each for the Comets, who won their third straight game and handed Indiana its first loss of the season. Tamika Whitmore scored a team-high 15 points for the Fever, who played without leading scorer Tamika Catchings, out with an arch sprain in her right foot.

Silver Stars 82, Mercury 76: At Phoenix, Kendra Wecker scored 18 points as San Antonio kept Phoenix without a win.