BRADENTON, Fla. — Leading from start to finish once again, the Seattle Storm (10-1) used a strong second half run to run away from the Connecticut Sun (4-7), 95-72.
Breanna Stewart again led the way on offense, scoring 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Seattle also received double-digit scoring contributions from Sami Whitcomb (14 points), Sue Bird (13 points), Natasha Howard (12 points), and Jewell Loyd (11 points).
Howard helped lead the Storm defense to another strong performance, getting her first double-double of the season with 11 rebounds, and harassing Sun scorers with three steals and two blocks. Connecticut as a team shot just 36.4% from the field.
“We’re just so much better defensively because she can cover so much ground,” head coach Gary Kloppenburg said of Howard. “She can block shots, she has great hands, she’s good in traps.”
The Storm again moved out to a first half lead thanks to a well-rounded scoring attack, with Stewart leading the way. The forward had 10 points in the first half, and her frontcourt partner, Howard, set the tone on defense, collecting eight first half rebounds and scoring eight points.
Howard and Stewart continued to power the Storm through the third quarter, as they began to separate from the Sun and open up a double-digit lead. Capped by Whitcomb’s buzzer-beating three-pointer from way beyond the arc, Seattle pushed its lead out to 15 heading into the final quarter.
“With our running game, we just sustained it,” Kloppenburg said. “If we keep getting stops and we’re getting out and running we usually get some pretty good looks either rolling to the rim or drive and kick for open threes and I think that’s what happened in that stretch where we were able to separate.”
Then, thanks to another late surge from Whitcomb again, who scored 11 points in the second half, the Storm were able to fend off the Sun for their eighth straight win.
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#SayHerName: It has been 156 days since Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her own apartment. The officers responsible for her death have not been arrested.
SEATTLE HIGHLIGHTS
- Natasha Howard scored a season-high 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting Sunday afternoon. Howard also secured her first double-double of the season, grabbing 11 rebounds in the win.
- Seattle’s win streak of eight games is its second best stretch in franchise history, with only its 13-game win streak in 2010 longer. The Storm have also tied their best start in franchise history, going 10-1 through the first 11 games, with the last time also being in 2010.
- Jewell Loyd has hit yet another milestone this season, securing her 600th career rebound Sunday afternoon. The guard is averaging 2.5 rebounds per game so far this season and finished with two rebounds against the Sun.
- Sunday afternoon’s win is the third straight game the Storm have held their opponents to under 40% shooting, as the Storm held the Sun to a 36.4% field goal percentage and are holding opponents to league-best 38.7%.
UP NEXT
The Storm will take the floor next against the New York Liberty on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. PT on JoeTV, followed by a matchup with the Indiana Fever on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. PT.
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August 17, 2020 at 02:01PM
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Game Recap: Storm leads from wire-to-wire in 95-72 win over Sun - SeattleStorm.com
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