Sun rallies to beat Storm

SEATTLE – Katie Douglas didn't mind the ice bath to soothe some calf cramps after her first ever victory in Seattle.

Douglas, the All-Star game MVP, scored 26 points, leading the Connecticut Sun back from a 15-point deficit for a 92-83 win over the Storm on Sunday night.

Getting shuttled around New York earlier in the week during All-Star festivities left Douglas with some sore lower legs, and flying cross-country to start the second half of the season only added to the discomfort.

The Storm certainly couldn't tell Douglas was struggling, as Connecticut's leading scorer made 8-of-17 shots, including four 3-pointers, as her franchise picked up its first victory in the Emerald City.

"They do a really phenomenal job of running the All-Stars around," Douglas said. "I didn't get much of a break, but it happens and I'm taking care of it. Hey, I'll take calf cramps and a win any day."

By winning in Seattle the Sun finally found success on the West Coast having previously lost in Phoenix, Sacramento and Los Angeles this season. An impressive third quarter was the catalyst.

Trailing 50-44 at halftime, the Sun outscored Seattle 28-10 in the third, behind Douglas' 10 points. Taj McWilliams-Franklin added eight and Asjha Jones had six in the quarter as Connecticut made 12 of 17 shots.

The Sun never trailed after McWilliams-Franklin's free throw gave them a 54-53 lead with 6:52 left in the quarter.

Connecticut built the lead to 16 early in the fourth at 80-64 on Jones' basket with 7:30 left. Seattle made a final charge, pulling within 82-76 on Betty Lennox's driving layup with 3:00 remaining, but the Storm missed three of their next four shots and Douglas' 3-pointer with 1:15 left pushed the Sun lead back to 10.

"It wasn't a lot of 'X' and 'O' stuff as much as effort stuff and kind of staying with it," Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said. "A lot of teams after the first quarter could have just cashed it in."

Seattle's offense was impressive in the first half, scoring a season-high 32 points in the first quarter and taking a 43-28 lead early in the second on a 3-pointer by Sue Bird.

Seattle was equally miserable from then on, shooting just 29 percent in the third quarter and turning the ball over six times as Connecticut took over.

"We didn't execute offensive plays when we needed to execute and we didn't knock down shots when we needed to knock down shots," Seattle coach Anne Donovan said.

Connecticut stayed close behind a 16-7 run to close the first half, sparked by eight points from Douglas, who didn't attempt a shot until 4:31 mark of the second quarter. The Sun outscored Seattle 48-33 in the second half.

Douglas bounced back from a poor performance on Saturday against Sacramento, when she shot 4-of-17 for 11 points. Douglas got plenty of support against Seattle, as Jones and Lindsay Whalen both scored 15 and McWilliams-Franklin added 14. Center Margo Dydek had 12 points and 14 rebounds.

"That's what makes our team so dangerous, we have five weapons on the floor at all times. It just makes my life out there easier," Douglas said.

Lauren Jackson led Seattle with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Bird and Lennox each added 16 for the Storm, who had won four of five.

The Sun played their third straight game without Nykesha Sales, who is out with a sore hip and Achilles' tendon.