SEATTLE, July 28 (Ticker) -- Deanna Nolan and Cheryl Ford delivered the
1-2 punch to help the Detroit Shock keep a good thing going.
Nolan scored 23 points and Ford added 18 with 18 rebounds as the
Shock posted their fourth straight win, a 77-67 triumph over
the Seattle Storm in their first meeting of the season.
After clinching a playoff spot Tuesday, Detroit won for the 14th
time in 17 contests after splitting its first eight games. The
Shock ended a three-game slide against the Storm and extended
their road winning streak to four.
Nolan scored 10 points in the second quarter and combined with
Ford for 13 of Detroit's final 15 points of the first half for a
46-39 advantage at the break.
Ruth Riley opened the second half by hitting a 16-foot jumper
and Swin Cash made a layup to cap a 13-3 run bridging the second
and third quarters, giving the Shock their largest lead, 50-39.
Despite scoring just 11 points in the third quarter, Seattle got
within 64-59 when Ashley Robinson sank a jumper with 4:13
remaining. However, Cash and Ford followed with layups to help
Detroit pull away.
Tiffani Johnson scored a career-high 15 points, Barbara Turner
added 13 and Robinson grabbed a career-best 13 rebounds for the
Storm, who were outrebounded, 41-32,
Seattle lost forward Lauren Jackson in the second quarter with
plantar fasciitis and guard Betty Lennox in the third with pain
in her right knee.





