Storm beat Mercury, 88-79
Seattle, WA--
The Seattle Storm beat the Phoenix Mercury, 88-79, Saturday night at KeyArena.
Phoenix jumped out to a 7-0 lead after a slow start from the Storm, but a Temeka Johnson three-pointer with 5:43 left in the first quarter got things going for the Storm. After the early Phoenix lead, Seattle was able to keep things close, trailing by only three at the half, 44-41. The Storm pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Phoenix 28-16, and held on for the win in the fourth quarter.
The Storm used key three pointers throughout the game to keep the game close, finishing at 42.3% from three-point land. Tina Thompson and Temeka Johnson led the way for the Storm with 16 points each. Tanisha Wright also chipped in 14 to go along with seven assists. Tianna Hawkins came off the bench to score 13 points and grab a new career-high six rebounds in only 12 minutes 48 seconds of play.
Mercury guard Diana Taurasi fouled out of the game with three minutes left in regulation, finishing with 10 points, five assists and one rebound. Forward DeWanna Bonner led all scorers with 19 points and also snagged nine rebounds.
Tonight’s win keeps the Storm the team in playoff contention going into the second half of the season. The Storm travels to Minnesota to take on the Lynx on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 4 p.m., followed by a game at Phoenix on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m., which will be broadcast on ESPN2. The Storm returns home on Friday, Aug. 9 to take on San Antonio at 7 p.m.