row (Wildwood, Mo.) paced the Tigers in kills (13) for a team-lea

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota guard Lindsay Whalen seemed to have a shiner developing under her left eye after Sundays season-saving Game 4 victory in the WNBA Finals. She shrugged indifferently when asked about it.Part of the game, Whalen said with her trademark flat tone and blank expression. I think everybody on both sides of the floor probably has something. Thats two teams competing.Admittedly, this doesnt sound funny. Yet if you know Whalen, if youve watched her exhibit so much grittiness while maintaining that poker face, if youre lucky enough to have glimpsed the hilarious side of her that family, friends, teammates and coaches see, then you can chuckle at the visual.Its just a tiny slice of everything about her that is just so ... Lindsay Whalen. She couldnt be more Minnesota, which is why shes beloved in her home state. That the Lynx are going for their fourth championship in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET) at Target Center is a big deal. But that home-state hero Whalen has been with the Lynx throughout their six-year run of success has made it even sweeter for fans.Whalen is about getting the job done, not talking about doing it. She might occasionally give an enthusiastic fist pump after a big basket, but for the most part shes just moving right on to the next play.She is never going to let her emotion became fuel for her opponent. Whether Whalen was holding a royal flush or a pair of twos, nobody but her is going to know. Yet when you ask who is the emotional leader of the Lynx, the answer is ... Lindsay Whalen.Her communication is really steady, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. Its thoughtful, firm when it needs to be. But then its also witty. I think thats what her teammates count on from her.And Lindsay is a point guard. When we dont have success, shes beating herself up -- that as the leader, she couldnt get things done. Shes such a thinker of the game. But shes going to focus on the next game or next possession. Shes going to break it down for her teammates. Shes one of the greatest all time.With three WNBA titles and two Olympic gold medals in hand, Whalen clearly has staked that claim. And what Whalen means to this state and the franchise, to her teammates, and also to Reeve -- who laughs and says, I think Im way more volatile emotionally than she is -- is profound.Whalen always seems to bring out the best in the people shes around and the situations shes in.When she is aggressive and leading our train, Lynx forward Maya Moore said, it gives all of us energy and life. Im so proud of her effort; she pours it all out for us every night, and its so inspiring.Or as forward Rebekkah Brunson said in the Lynx locker room Sunday, gesturing over to Whalen, Thats my favorite player right here. I love every part of being her teammate. I love the practice, the travel, the games; I enjoy every minute of it. I wouldnt want to have anyone else leading our team.Last postseason was difficult for Whalen, because by then she was worn down dealing with a lot of pain. She still played in all 10 playoff games in 2015, and had one of the biggest assists of the WNBA Finals against Indiana, getting the ball to Moore for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that won Game 3.But Whalen didnt feel like her normal self, and had the lowest scoring average -- 6.5 points per game -- of her 11 career playoff appearances between Minnesota and Connecticut, where she was drafted and played her first six seasons.She knew she needed some recovery time, especially with 2016 being an Olympic year. So Whalen didnt play overseas last winter. It was a chance to recharge both physically and mentally.I feel great this year, Whalen said. It was obviously a smart decision. I listened to my body, my coaches, my family about taking a rest and getting fully healthy. It feels good to be able to move and play the way you want to play.It also helped that Minnesota brought in veteran guards Renee Montgomery during the 2015 season and Jia Perkins before this season, which has allowed Whalen to rest more without it hurting the Lynx.Whalen played the fewest minutes of her career this season, averaging 24.6. But she is fresher for the playoffs, rather than just trying to gut her way through them like last season.Her 9.8 PPG in the regular season has improved to 13.6 in the postseason, second to Moores 22.3. Whalen had 13 points, six rebounds and two assists in Minnesotas 85-79 win Sunday. That included baskets on consecutive possessions off Los Angeles turnovers in the crunch-time fourth quarter.She doesnt have to be scoring to help us, but when she does, it makes us that much harder to defend, Moore said. And when shes penetrating, she has such good body control and can get to the free throw line.Whalen always has been fearless going to the basket no matter how daunting the defense looks. It might have been one of those times when she got hit around the eye Sunday. She has taken her share of punishment, including last year when her string of 106 consecutive starts was broken and she had to miss the 2015 All-Star Game after she was poked in the right eye. But her pain tolerance is high, and the bumps and the bruises mean nothing to her.What matters is that the Lynx fended off potential elimination and now will be back home with an opportunity for another championship. Whalen turned 34 in May and knows that everything becomes a little more difficult as you age. But also a little more precious.Yeah, you just dont know how many chances you have left to be in this position, Whalen said. To even get to this point is very hard, because its a great league. So you have to cherish the moment. 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Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. COLUMBIA, MO. - Mizzou Volleyball (11-3, 2-0 SEC) closed its perfect opening week of Southeastern Conference play on Sunday with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 26-24) victory over Ole Miss. Dating back to Sept. 16 (vs. Duquesne), the Tigers have tallied sweeps in four of their past five wins. Mizzou is in midst of a current six-match winning streak overall.The two teams played a fairly even match all afternoon long, despite the ultimate Mizzou sweep. The Tigers edged the Rebels by three or fewer points in all three sets. Overall, the two squads shared 21 total ties and 10 total lead changes.Senior Carly Kan (Honolulu) was outstanding today at the Hearnes Center, recording her team-leading sixth double-double this season. Kan finished with 12 kills on season high .522 hitting and 10 digs. Redshirt junior Melanie Crow (Wildwood, Mo.) paced the Tigers in kills (13) for a team-leading 12th time this year.Junior Courtney Eckenrode (The Woodlands, Texas) posted her sixth consecutivve match with 30-plus assists.dddddddddddd Eckenrode also matched her season high with three kills for the second consecutive match.Sophomore Alyssa Munlyn (Suwanee, Ga.) stepped up in big moments of the match, totaling five kills on .364 hitting and three solo blocks. With the final set tied at 24 apiece, head coach Wayne Kreklow called junior Sydney Deeken (California, Mo.) into the match. Deeken contributed a key dig for Mizzous 25th point and ended the match on a well-placed kill.UP NEXTMizzou hits the weekend on Friday, Sept. 30, and Sunday, Oct. 2, for its first SEC road trip of the year. The Tigers will face Arkansas on Friday with first serve scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT). Mizzou and the Razorbacks will compete live on SEC Network. The Tigers close out their weekend on Sunday with a matchup at LSU. First serve is set for 1 p.m. (CT). ' ' '