Storm defense paves way in victory over Mystics

Well, there was one positive to the Storm being embarrassed in a road loss to Los Angeles last week — it made the team motivated to do the same to those that visit KeyArena.

Usually an electric scoring matchup, this Seattle vs. Washington game turned into a defensive grinder. The Storm's adopted blue-collar mentality won out, helping defeat the Mystics 64-49 on Sunday.

Washington's point total is a season low for a Storm opponent and four points shy of the franchise record for fewest points allowed, set by Phoenix in 2004. The last time the Mystics, who were on a three-game win streak, scored below 50 points was in 2005.

"We needed to start playing with a purpose," Storm coach Brian Agler said of his team, which had lost four of its previous five games heading into the Sunday matchup. "Sometimes we get out there and we start running up and down the floor and we don't really have a feel for the game. [Sunday], we had a feel for what was going on and sort of where we're at. We need to start taking control of games and I thought we did that not only with our offense, but our defense."

Sure, guard Sue Bird flew out of the locker room and immediately hit three-pointers and her signature pull-up jumper to give the Storm offensive oomph. But it was the Storm's four forced shot-clock violations that really deflated the Mystics.

And it was a third-quarter defensive stand that really hurt Washington.

After its lead was cut to 39-32 following a 16-foot jump shot from Mystics star Alana Beard, the Storm pulled together to stop the offensively challenged Mystics. Seattle held Washington scoreless for more than six minutes as it went through its own scoring slump, yet did enough to take a 44-32 lead.

Center Yolanda Griffith was one free throw from all five Storm starters finishing in double-digit scoring. Bird led with 14 points, while Lauren Jackson had 13.

"That's our offense, we're equal opportunity," said Bird, who also had seven assists. "It's just trying to get the ball in the right place at the right time, and it's up to everybody to take advantage of that.

"But we're more defensive-minded and we can get it done on the defensive end. To keep them under 50 is pretty impressive considering the great scorers they have on their team."

In practice last week, the Storm (9-7) focused on rebounding and defense. The team hasn't had trouble displaying those attributes at home, posting a Western Conference-leading 8-1 record at KeyArena. It's when the Storm plays on the road that it falters. The Storm won't have to worry about travel for another week, though, with its next two games at home against New York and Minnesota.

"[Agler's] defensive stuff is pretty good," said Jackson, who shot 4 for 11 from the field while being smothered by Washington double teams all night. "He's got us playing really good basketball right now defensively. And to be able to have a few days to work on stuff, get our confidence back and play in front of our fans is nice. The last five games we've sort of been losing, and it's a matter of getting things back on track and working on things we need to focus on to get better."

Against the Seattle defense, Beard struggled to 16 points on 6-for-17 shooting, and the Mystics (6-9) had a season-low eight assists. The effort made Washington's impressive win at conference-leading Los Angeles on Thursday look like a mirage.

"There's no excuse to have a win the way that we had in L.A., where we're clicking on all cylinders, and then come in here and play the way that we did," Beard said. "Seattle came out gunning and we trailed the entire game."

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com