Lynx-Storm Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Jun 23 2011 1:48PM

The Minnesota Lynx handed the Seattle Storm their first home loss since 2009 earlier this month. Even if Storm center Lauren Jackson can play in the rematch, the Western Conference-leading Lynx think they can make it two straight at KeyArena.

Off to the best start in franchise history, Minnesota goes for its first six-game winning streak in seven years Friday night in its final visit to Seattle this season.

The Lynx (5-1) jumped out to a 22-0 lead and snapped a 10-game skid in Seattle with an 81-74 victory June 9. The defending champion Storm (3-2) had won 18 consecutive regular-season home games and 22 in a row overall at KeyArena since a 92-84 overtime loss to Phoenix on Sept. 10, 2009.

The Lynx led Seattle 28-8 after the first quarter and have outscored three of their last four opponents by at least 16 points in the opening 10 minutes.

Minnesota was up 26-10 after the first period Sunday as it went on to complete a home-and-home sweep of Atlanta with a 77-64 road win.

"The players' mindset has changed,'' Lynx leading scorer Seimone Augustus said after finishing with 19 points. "We've had 20-point leads and we've blown 20-point leads. We've been there and done that. We've added some good players, like Maya Moore and Amber Harris, and our expectations have changed.''

Minnesota last won six in a row July 9-22, 2004.

The club is in position to match that run because of drastic improvement on the defensive end, holding teams to 73.2 points and 38.8 percent shooting per game. The Lynx gave up 82.1 points and allowed opponents to shoot 44.6 percent in 2010, when they went 13-21.

"It's defense,'' coach Cheryl Reeve said Sunday after the Lynx held the Dream to 30 percent from the field. "On the road we have to bring our defense. We put it on them. We talk about punching the other team in the mouth. When you play good defense it makes it easier on the road.''

The Lynx will face a Storm team that's among the lowest-scoring in the WNBA, averaging 70.4 points and 40.0 percent shooting.

Seattle's chances Friday could suffer significantly if Jackson is unable to go. She strained her left hip in an 82-77 victory at Tulsa on Tuesday.

"We're not sure how severe the injury is," coach Brian Agler said after the game.

Jackson, a three-time MVP, is averaging 9.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 30.0 percent from the field - all career lows. If she can't play, Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson could find it easier to continue her hot start to the season.

Brunson, averaging career bests of 14.5 points, 13.3 rebounds and 61.4 percent shooting, had 22 points and 14 boards June 9. She can set a league record Friday with her seventh straight double-double to open the season.

Minnesota needed 17 games last year to post its sixth victory. Seattle didn't suffer its third loss of 2010 until its 25th game.

Little helps lead Storm past Lynx 65-55

Posted Jun 25 2011 12:33AM

SEATTLE (AP) Camille Little scored 16 points to lead four players in double figures and the Seattle Storm beat the Minnesota Lynx 65-55 Friday night despite playing without three-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson.

Jackson will be out of the lineup for at least three weeks with a hip injury.

Swin Cash added 13 points and Tanisha Wright and Le'coe Willingham had 11 each for Seattle (4-2).

Seimone Augustus scored 17 to lead Minnesota (5-2), which had its five-game winning streak end.

Amber Harris added 11 points and Lindsay Whalen 10. Rebekkah Brunson had two points and seven rebounds to end a league record-tying six-game double-double streak to start the season.

Wright scored seven points in the fourth quarter to help the Storm break open the game after the Lynx had cut the lead to 47-45 after three quarters.

Augustus hit a 16-footer to tie it at 41 midway through the third quarter.

Little had six to spark a 10-2 run in the final minutes of the first half to help give the Storm a 35-25 halftime lead.

Seattle jumped out to a 14-point lead in the first quarter before Augustus scored nine to help the Lynx cut the lead to 25-23 late in the first half.

Minnesota shot just 2 of 15 from the field in the first quarter while the Storm shot 8 of 15.

The Lynx beat Seattle 81-74 on June 9 to end the Storm's 18-game, regular-season home winning streak.

With a victory, the Lynx could have tied their single-season record winning streak of six games.

Brunson was scoreless in the first half with four rebounds. She could have tied Jackson's league record of seven consecutive double-doubles set in 2003.

Brunson shot 1 of 5 from the field.

Seattle held rookie Maya Moore to four points. She fouled out after playing 19 minutes.

• Lynx: --
• Storm: --

• Lynx: --
• Storm: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Key Arena, Seattle, WA
• Officials: #18 Kurt Walker, #13 Cameron Inouye, #34 Maj Forsberg
• Attendance: 7914
• Duration: 1:59