Notebook | Storm's help defense slows Lynx's Augustus

MINNEAPOLIS — The imbalance in the Minnesota Lynx's starting lineup often leads opponents to use a stars-will-be-stars defense; that is, Seimone Augustus is likely to "get hers," no matter what, so you focus on shutting down the team's other scoring options.

The Storm got terrific results with that strategy Tuesday afternoon: a 3-for-16 shooting performance from Augustus and a 76-73 victory over the Lynx at Target Center.

Augustus, the WNBA's fourth-leading scorer (19.7), began the day as the only Minnesota starter averaging in double figures. She ended it that way, too, as Augustus struggled for her 10 points.

The Storm held the Lynx to 35 percent shooting and outrebounded them 39-33, continuing what Seattle coach Brian Agler and several players referred to as a recent re-commitment to those areas.

"Seimone's very crafty with the basketball," said Swin Cash, the primary defender, "so every time she went into a penetration, we had a person trying to get the ball out of her hands."

Guard Sue Bird cited the Storm's interchangeable parts.

"We can really switch a lot," she said. "For Seimone, coming off a pick-and-roll, she went from having Swin on her to Camille [Little] on her. It's hard to get going off of that.

"That's really been valuable for us."

Break might be good

Like the rest of the WNBA, the Storm will go on hiatus for a month to accommodate the Olympics, playing Sacramento at KeyArena on Sunday and then resuming the season Aug. 28 at home against Houston.

Given center Yolanda Griffith's and guard Sheryl Swoopes' injuries — and the fact that Bird (U.S.), Lauren Jackson (Australia) and Kelly Santos (Brazil) will be competing in Beijing — the players are viewing the extended layoff as a good thing.

"We're banged up some, so for us, it's just going to be getting our bodies healthy," Cash said.

Bird pointed out that when the WNBA had a similar break in 2004, the U.S. women's team took gold in Athens and then the Storm returned to win the championship.

Notes

• Griffith was held out as a precaution, Agler said, after she banged heads on Sunday with Washington's Alana Beard.

• Swoopes, who pulled her right hamstring in the second quarter, didn't return. Said Agler: "I don't know how severe it is."

Tuesday's box

SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Swoopes	11:46	1-3	0-0	0-3	0	0	2
Cash	37:59	5-12	7-8	2-11	4	3	17
Little	31:05	6-10	4-6	4-7	0	2	17
Wright	34:06	6-8	0-0	1-5	4	5	12
Bird	37:04	7-15	5-5	0-1	4	1	22
Ely	20:15	3-6	0-0	1-3	0	2	6
Santos	9:31	0-2	0-0	1-4	1	3	0
Gearlds	14:39	0-4	0-0	0-4	0	0	0
Robinson	3:35	0-1	0-0	1-1	0	2	0
Totals		28-61	16-19	10-39	13	18	76

Percentages: FG .459, FT .842. Three-point goals: 4-10, .400 (Bird 3-4, Little 1-1, Cash 0-1, Swoopes 0-1, Gearlds 0-3). Team rebounds: 5. Team Turnovers: 20 (22 PTS). Blocked shots: 5 (Cash 2, Gearlds 2, Ely). Turnovers: 19 (Cash 6, Bird 5, Wright 3, Ely, Little, Robinson, Santos, Swoopes). Steals: 7 (Wright 3, Bird 2, Cash, Little). Technical fouls: Little, 0:04.5 third.

MINNESOTA
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Augustus	32:11	3-16	3-3	2-3	5	2	10
Ohldev	11:49	3-6	0-0	2-2	1	1	6
Anosike	25:50	3-5	3-4	0-6	3	4	9
DeForge	22:45	2-6	0-0	0-1	5	1	6
Quinn	11:21	1-2	0-0	0-2	0	1	2
Wiggins	30:19	3-11	8-9	3-5	6	2	14
Rasmussen	5:34	0-1	0-0	0-1	0	2	0
Hayden	10:55	2-9	0-0	3-5	0	2	4
Harding	23:24	2-5	2-2	0-2	0	1	6
Houston	25:52	8-16	0-0	2-6	1	2	16
Totals		27-77	16-18	12-33	21	18	73

Percentages: FG .351, FT .889. Three-point goals: 3-9, .333 (DeForge 2-4, Augustus 1-1, Harding 0-1, Quinn 0-1, Wiggins 0-2). Team rebounds: 11. Team Turnovers: 12 (8 PTS). Blocked shots: 2 (Anosike, Augustus). Turnovers: 11 (Harding 2, Houston 2, Wiggins 2, Anosike, Augustus, Hayden, Ohlde, Quinn). Steals: 10 (Anosike 4, Hayden 2, Ohlde 2, Houston, Rasmussen). Technical fouls: Bench, 2:40 third.

Seattle	20	19	21	16 — 76
Minnesota	16	14	21	22 — 73

Attendance: 12,276 (12,600). Time: 1:55. Officials: Daryl Humphrey, Penny Davis, Tom Mauer.