Seattle Storm Falls to Minnesota Lynx 86-73

Photo: Steph Brusig

Minnesota surpassed the Seattle Storm last night at KeyArena when they won the season series 3-1. The Lynx have won their last five games.  With the win, Cheryl Reeve tied Suzie McConnell Serio as the winningest coach in Minnesota history with 58 wins apiece.

On the subject of Seattle coming within 5 points, Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve said, “It’s everything you expect when you play here in Seattle. It’s never over. We’ve had times here where we’re up 25 and they can cut it to 5 – it’s just what they do here. Make a couple good plays, they turn up their defense, the crowd gets behind them, start making shots, all the calls start going your way – all those things that are typical to a basketball game it happens here in Seattle so we were fortunate that we were able to stop the bleeding when we did.”

For their part, the Storm last lost consecutive home games on July 12 and 15, 2009. The team’s four home losses tie 2009 (13-4) for the most since 2007 (12-5).  Camille Little reached 20 points for the second time in 2012.

With a game-high 22 points, Seimone Augustus topped the 20-point mark for the sixth time this season while Maya Moore reached 20 points for the second time and tied a career high with seven assists (previously May 22).

Moore stressed that getting some easy wins after the Olympic break was not…so easy. “I wouldn’t call them easy. We’re supposed to make certain things look easy so that’s a compliment, I’ll take that. But it’s definitely not easy.” She added,  “We work really hard, we fight, we battle, our bodies take a beating and it feels really good to be able to walk away with a win and playing well. And having your teammates play well. I’m just so proud to be on the team with these women. Our coaching staff works so hard for us.”

Australian Olympian Lauren Jackson was on the court again for the Storm, but sat on the bench Tuesday night following her return from London. Sue Bird sat out the last two home games out due to the stomach flu, and this match marked her official return playing a full game post-Olympics.

According to the Storm official website:

Having traveled to three continents within the span of eight weeks – from London to Australia to Seattle – Jackson is still feeling the effects of jet lag. “I had to press snooze about 100 times this morning,” she noted. “I’m fine. I expect that for a couple of days.” Yet she’s ready to take the court for her 2012 debut with the Storm on Thursday against the Indiana Fever.

The Lynx’s 86 points and 52 points before halftime were both season highs for Storm opponents.

The next Storm home game is scheduled for Thursday, August 23. They will take on the Indiana Fever at KeyArena (7pm).