Napheesa Collier scores 26 and Lynx overcome Caitlin Clark's 25-point night for 99-88 win over Fever

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Napheesa Collier scored nine of her 26 points in the third quarter, Bridget Carleton made three 3-pointers in the final four minutes and the Minnesota Lynx overcame a 25-point night by Caitlin Clark to snap Indiana's five-game winning streak with a 99-88 win over the Fever on Friday night.

The Lynx trailed 50-45 at halftime before Collier scored nine of their opening 20 points of the third quarter for a 65-57 lead.

Collier blocked Clark's shot in the paint and Courtney Williams made a jumper from the free-throw line at the other end to extend Minnesota’s lead to 70-60. Clark went to the bench and Myisha Hines-Allen scored the next three points to give Minnesota a 13-point lead.

Indiana made just three field goals in the third quarter before making three in the opening two minutes of the fourth to get back in it.

The Fever were within 81-80 before Carleton sank a 3-pointer from the corner. She added a 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 87-80 and she grabbed an offensive rebound on the Lynx's next possession, leading to Williams' 3-pointer.

Carleton's third 3-pointer of the frame gave Minnesota a 96-85 lead.

Clark, coming off her second career triple-double on Wednesday, continued her record-breaking season for Indiana (18-17). She made one 3-pointer in the first quarter to become the franchise leader for made 3-pointers in a single season, passing Kelsey Mitchell (102). Clark was 5 of 10 from 3-point range for 107 this season.

Mitchell added 23 points and Aliyah Boston scored 20 for Indiana. Mitchell has scored 20-plus points for the eighth time in her last nine games.

Carleton scored 16 points for Minnesota (25-9). Williams added 15 points, to go with seven rebounds to go over 1,500 for her career. Collier also grabbed 10 rebounds.

Carleton closed the first half on a 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left off a nice pass from Hines-Allen. Then the Lynx scored the opening nine points of the third quarter for a 52-50 lead, their first since 7-6.

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Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) is fouled as she shoots between Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, left, and forward Bridget Carleton (6) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives on Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton (6) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Minnesota Lynx forward Myisha Hines-Allen (22) shoots in front of Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) and forward Damiris Dantas (12) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after a three-point basket in front of Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton (6) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) shoots over Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) looks to pass over Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) and forward Bridget Carleton (6) celebrate after William hits a three-point basket against the Indiana Fever in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) drives on Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton (6) celebrates after a three-point basket against the Indiana Fever in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives on Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride (21) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical storm conditions were expected along a stretch of the southeastern U.S. coast with a system bringing gusty winds, heavy rain and potential flooding, forecasters said Monday.

The storm system was expected to reach the South Carolina coast Monday afternoon and then move inland across the Carolinas from Monday night through Wednesday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Strong winds were approaching the coast Monday morning and were expected to spread onshore.

The system didn't have an official name yet, and forecasters weren't sure if Potential Tropical Cyclone No. 8 would ever organize enough to be named Helene.

But no matter its classification, the storm prompted school closings, including Coastal Carolina University, and flooded the streets south of Wilmington, North Carolina, with more than a foot (30 centimeters) of rain while nearby Wrightsville Beach had a wind gust of 65 mph (105 kph).

A tropical storm warning was in effect from the South Santee River north of Charleston, South Carolina, northward to Ocracoke Inlet, near the southernmost extreme of North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Late Monday morning, the low-pressure system was centered about 95 miles (150 kilometers) east of Charleston and about 70 miles (115 kilometers) south of Cape Fear, North Carolina. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph) and was moving to the north-northwest at 5 mph (7 kph), forecasters said.

The system still had a chance of becoming a tropical or subtropical storm, but forecasters said those chances are decreasing because it was becoming less organized.

That means the strongest winds in the storm are in outer rain bands instead of near the center, said Carl Morgan, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's office in Wilmington.

“There are still strong winds out there. They just not concentrating near a center,” Morgan said.

Areas along the coast are already experiencing higher water levels thanks to King Tides this week while the moon is the closest to Earth in its orbit. Charleston was not predicting major flooding, but officials warned residents to be ready in case heavy rain came at high tide.

In an updated hurricane outlook last month the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was still predicting a highly active Atlantic hurricane season thanks to near-record sea surface temperatures and the possibility of La Nina. Emergency management officials have urged people to stay prepared.

Maximum winds were expected to decrease as the low approached the coast, but tropical storm-force winds were still expected within the warning areas. The system will likely dissipate over the Carolinas by late Wednesday, forecasters said.

The storm was expected to dump 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of rain in northeast South Carolina into southeast North Carolina and up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) in isolated spots, with smaller amounts expected across the remainder of North Carolina through Tuesday, according to forecasters.

Over much of Virginia, 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 8 centimeters) of rainfall, with locally higher amounts, were expected from Monday night through Wednesday. The hurricane center predicted the rainfall could lead to isolated and scattered flash and urban flooding, as well as minor river flooding.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Gordon weakened to a depression as it swirls through open ocean waters. Gordon could either dissolve in upcoming days or strengthen back into a tropical storm, forecasters said.

This image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows tropical storm conditions along a stretch of the U.S. Southeast seacoast, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (NOAA via AP)