Four quarters of defensive dominance more than offset one quarter of offensive success for the Lynx on Friday night.

It was a key stretch of one leading to another that allowed Minnesota to create sizable separation en route to its fourth straight win.

Natasha Howard scored the first six points of the second half, Nia Coffey followed with back-to-back 3-pointers to cap a 12-0 Minnesota run, and the Lynx were barely threatened the rest of the way in a 79-58 win at Chicago.

What finished as a 19-2 run was capped by another Coffey triple and a Howard layup. The Lynx (6-2) outscored Chicago 31-16 in the third quarter to turn a three-point halftime edge to a 64-46 lead.

“It’s really been us making sure we’re disruptive on defense, and we’re just there for each other. We really have each other’s backs in rotations,” said Coffey, who scored 15 of her game-high 20 points in the second half. Five of her career-high six 3-pointers came in the second half.

Her 20 points are the most since a career-best 23 on May 27, 2018, playing for Las Vegas.

Coffey added eight rebounds and continues to further take advantage of the opportunity she has been given with her hometown team.

Coach Cheryl Reeve recently spoke about wanting Coffey to take more shots when she’s open. “Today, the opportunity presented itself. She had some good, favorable matchups. … She found a hot zone, especially at the top of the key.”

Olivia Miles, who had 17 points and six assists, said it makes it so hard for a defense when a bigger player can stretch the floor.

“We literally ran the same play three or four times, because they couldn’t stop her.”

Reeve said Coffey was “probably the most focused” of the Lynx at both ends, a player who with her elevation and length can seemingly come out of nowhere to get a hand on a shot.

“Her overall game and just her readiness no matter what’s happening and communication, she’s the one that’s gonna do the right thing on each possession.”

Chicago’s point total was the fewest against Minnesota this year by 14 points. In shooting just 28.6%, also a Lynx opponent low, the Sky (3-6) held by making just 31.3% of their shots in last Saturday’s 85-75 Lynx win. The teams played all three of their season meetings in a 13-day span.

The second-best team in the WNBA at hanging onto the ball, Chicago committed 18 turnovers, eight more than its average. In its first seven possessions of the second half, Chicago missed four shots and committed three turnovers.

“Your defense has to travel because travel because usually that’s when you have those kind of tough nights,” Reeve said.

Reeve said Kayla McBride led the defensive stand that limited Chicago’s chances in the paint.

“She continues to be sort of the heart and soul of the defense. Eleven deflections, she had seven at the half. Those are crazy numbers. As a team we had 33. … Guarding teams best players being in pick and roll after pick and roll with Sklyar (Diggins), getting popped by bigs screening, and she’s getting through that and trying to make catches difficult. She has been the head of the defensive snake for us.”