Seattle Storm edge out Los Angeles Sparks 65-63; Secure a fourth consecutive win – WNBA Recap
On Sunday night, Sue Bird hit a pair of game-winning free throws with 1.6 seconds to go in the game as Seattle Storm beat Los Angeles Sparks 65-63 at Key Arena for their fourth consecutive victory.
Bird said of her free throws after the game, "Those free throws for any player at the end of the game can be tough. It's just you and the basket," "Luckily, the blocked shot ended up in my hands. They (the Sparks) came at me so
hard, I just pump-faked, and took the hit.
The defending champions have now moved one game ahead of Phoenix Mercury for second position in the Western Conference and need just one more victory to qualify for the WNBA playoffs. On the other hand, it was second straight loss
for Los Angeles, who fell two games behind San Antonio Silver Stars for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West with five games to go till the post season.
Bird, who is averaging 14.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, ended the game with 12 points, five steals, seven rebounds and four assist. Seattle’s forward centre Lauren Jackson added 14 points, grabbed five rebounds and blocked
two shots.
Tanisha Wright also scored 14 points, pinning three of four three-pointers, stole the ball three times and pulled down two rebounds. Camille Little tallied 13 points, shooting 5 for 8 from the field, grabbed six rebounds, dished
out two assist and blocked one shot for Storm.
Candace Parker led Los Angeles with a game high 19 points and 14 rebounds. Parker also blocked five difficult shots of Seattle and stole the ball twice. The 25-year-old forward shot 7 for 13 from the floor and 5 for 5 from free
throw line.
Ticha Penicheiro recorded a double-double with 15 points and ten rebounds while Kristi Toliver had 12 points in the loss. Ebony Hoffman came off the bench with 11 points and two blocks for the Sparks, who are fifth in the West
with a 12-17 record.
Seattle held an 11-8 lead with 03:20 to go in the first quarter before Toliver hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 11. Both teams missed some easy opportunities to score in the next two minutes, but Cash drove to the rim in
the closing second to put Seattle ahead by two, 13-11, after one.
Strom stretched their lead to ten points, 32-22, with 02:49 remaining in the second period before Los Angeles reeled off an 8-5 run and trimmed their deficit to 37-30 at halftime.
Leading by seven points after the break, Seattle continued to play with intensity and pushed their lead to 48-39 at 02:58 mark in the third quarter. Hoffman scored a lay-up and Penicheiro hit a jumper to cut Seattle’s lead to five,
48-43, but Cash hit a shot from downtown to carry a 51-43 advantage into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, Seattle manage to take a 63-59 lead with 01:59 remaining in the final buzzer before Sparks pinned four of four free throws and tied the game at 63. Wright tried to score for Seattle but Parker blocked her
shot. However, the loose ball found its way to the hands of Bird at the left of the lane. She faked a jumper and was fouled by Los Angeles’ Kristi Toliver. Bird hit two of two free throws to seal another close victory for Storm.
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