Storm wins; 19-2 start second-best in WNBA history

SAN ANTONIO — The Storm was playing its final game of a three-game trip, looking as if it was weary from the travel and two demanding games.

Seattle trailed by 10 points, was committing far too many turnovers, was getting out-rebounded by an opponent not known for rebounding, and seemingly couldn't make a shot from the perimeter.

Then, in a blink of an eye, the Storm displayed why it has the WNBA's best record.

The Storm made six consecutive three-pointers during a game-changing run overlapping the third and fourth quarters, rallying past San Antonio 80-74 Tuesday before 12,414 fans at the AT&T Center.

"I think these kinds of games test your character," said Storm guard Tanisha Wright, who had eight points and seven assists. "It shows what you have inside of you — whether or not you're going to fold or rise to the occasion."

The Storm (19-2), by winning its next game, would tie Houston (1998) for the best 22-game start to a season in WNBA history. That Comets team opened 19-1.

In all but securing its seventh consecutive playoff berth — the Storm needs either one more victory or a loss by Los Angeles to do so — Seattle used a late surge to extend its franchise-record winning streak to 10.

Trailing 56-46 with 3:14 left in the third period, Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson spearheaded the comeback. Both players hit two three-pointers apiece as the Storm turned the 10-point deficit into a 73-66 advantage.

Jackson finished with 21 points, Bird had 20 and Swin Cash chipped in 12.

"I think it's our resiliency," Bird said. "What we really do a good job of is never letting the score necessarily dictate how we play. We just keep playing, keep playing, keep going at it.

"They made a run, we made a run, they made a run. Luckily, we just made the last one."

The Silver Stars (7-13), who lost to Seattle for the sixth straight time dating to last year and fourth time this season, pulled to 74-70 on a jumper by Michelle Snow with 3:07 remaining.

But Jackson scored on a put-back basket, and Bird hit a jumper and two free throws to keep San Antonio at bay.

"We have been through this a lot," Seattle coach Brian Agler said. "It has sort of been a rhythm of what's going on with our team. We have a group of people that are resilient, but they really bring it out when they are playing together."

Storm 80, Silver Stars 74

SEATTLE		fg	ft
min		m-a	m-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Cash	34:01	4-11	3-4	2-7	4	4	12
Jackson	30:44	8-13	2-2	2-7	0	4	21
Little	17:21	2-6	1-2	2-4	0	5	5
Bird	34:01	6-10	5-5	0-2	4	1	20
Wright	30:53	3-7	2-2	1-2	7	2	8
Vesela	13:04	2-2	0-0	0-0	0	1	4
Willingham	22:01	1-1	1-2	1-2	1	1	4
Abrosimova	15:06	3-5	0-0	0-0	2	0	6
Robinson	2:49	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Totals		29-55	14-17	8-24	18	18	80

Percentages: FG .527, FT .824. Three-point goals: 8-19, .421 (Bird 3-5, Jackson 3-7, Willingham 1-1, Cash 1-4, Abrosimova 0-1, Wright 0-1). Team rebounds: 3. Team turnovers: 15 (17 PTS). Blocked shots: 1 (Wright). Turnovers: 15 (Cash 4, Bird 3, Jackson 3, Vesela 2, Little, Willingham, Wright). Steals: 11 (Vesela 3, Abrosimova 2, Bird 2, Cash, Jackson, Little, Willingham). Technical fouls: None.

SAN ANTONIO		fg	ft
min		m-a	m-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Young	35:06	9-13	0-0	3-7	4	0	18
Holdsclaw	30:43	5-12	6-9	2-6	3	3	16
Snow	24:29	7-14	2-2	3-6	0	0	16
Hodges	36:40	4-8	0-0	2-5	2	1	11
Hammon	35:51	1-5	0-0	0-2	10	5	3
Darling	14:15	2-2	0-0	1-1	0	1	5
Appel	13:20	1-4	0-0	1-2	0	1	2
Kelly	9:36	1-2	1-2	1-1	0	2	3
Totals		30-60	9-13	13-30	19	13	74

Percentages: FG .500, FT .692. Three-point goals: 5-13, .385 (Hodges 3-5, Darling 1-1, Hammon 1-3, Holdsclaw 0-1, Snow 0-1, Young 0-2). Team rebounds: 6. Team turnovers: 19 (22 PTS). Blocked shots: 2 (Snow 2). Turnovers: 17 (Darling 5, Hammon 3, Hodges 3, Holdsclaw 3, Snow 2, Young). Steals: 7 (Hammon 3, Appel, Darling, Hodges, Holdsclaw). Technical fouls: None.

Seattle	19	21	15	25 — 80
San Antonio	19	22	16	17 — 74

Attendance: 12,414 (9,839). Time: 1:53. Officials: Denise Brooks-Clauser, Tony Dawkins, Eric Brewton.