Shock-Storm Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted May 31 2012 1:31PM

If their early efforts are any indication, the Tulsa Shock appear to be in for another long season.

While the Seattle Storm also are seeking their first victory of 2012, they have to like their chances of coming out on top against the hapless Shock on Friday night at KeyArena.

After going 3-31 last year to set a WNBA record for lowest winning percentage, Tulsa (0-4) has picked up right where it left off.

Seattle (0-3), in contrast, made an eighth consecutive postseason appearance in 2011, but now is on the verge of matching its worst start since opening 0-4 during its inaugural 2000 season.

The Storm, however, seem unlikely to do so given their recent success in this series. Seattle has taken six straight from Tulsa by an average of 17.5 points - including all five matchups last season.

A meeting with the Shock could be just what veteran guard Sue Bird needs to get going. The seven-time All-Star, who posted three 20-point efforts against Tulsa last year, is averaging what would be career lows of 9.0 points and 32.3 percent shooting.

While she dished out a season-high nine assists during Sunday's 84-71 loss at Minnesota, Bird saw her shooting woes continue, making 2 of 10 attempts to finish with seven points. Despite her struggles, coach Brian Agler doesn't seem too concerned.

"Oh, we will get her going," he said. "She'll be fine. We're still a team with a lot of new pieces and still improving."

Seattle, which continues to play without three-time league MVP Lauren Jackson as she prepares for the upcoming Olympics, is also getting accustomed to newcomers Tina Thompson and Ann Wauters.

Originally selected No. 1 overall by the former Cleveland Rockers in 2000, Wauters is averaging team highs of 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in her first year back in the league after sitting out the last two.

"We believe in each other. In this locker room, everybody knows that we'll get better," Wauters said. "Each day, we will progress and get to know each other better, play better together. At the end of the season we'll see where we are at. So I mean it is tough losing. Nobody likes it. It's also being strong in those tough moments and getting better."

Wauters could be in for a big game against a Tulsa club that's been outrebounded by 8.0 boards per contest. The Shock's lack of prowess on the glass proved especially costly Tuesday in a deflating 76-75 loss at Los Angeles.

After the Sparks' Kristi Toliver got an offensive rebound and cut Tulsa's lead to two with seven seconds remaining, Karima Christmas missed a pair of free throws before Toliver made a game-winning 3 with one second to go.

"Last possession, rebounds," said Riquna Williams, who had a game-high 19 points off the bench. "We've got to box out. We're not big, but we just can't jump up there and get it. We've got to find a body.

"It hurts. Teary. Painful. (It's) emotional but it's not going to stop us."

Storm beats Shock 76-58

Posted Jun 02 2012 1:20AM

SEATTLE (AP) Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird showed just how comfortable she's getting with her new teammates.

Bird scored 27 points and Camille Little added 19 points and nine rebounds to lead the Storm to their first win of the season, 76-58 over the Tulsa Shock on Friday night.

Bird hit 5 of 7 3-pointers for Seattle (1-3) after she had made just 5 of 17 in the first three games of the season. Bird and Little had seven points each as the Storm outscored Tulsa 21-11 in the third quarter to break open a close game.

``I think being comfortable helps and we're getting more and more comfortable with each other,'' said Bird, who has five new teammates this season because of trades, draft picks and free agent signings. ``You're able just to go out there and play and not have to think so much.''

Seattle increased its lead to 57-46 after three quarters as the Shock made only 2 of 17 from the field in the quarter.

``I thought we battled that first half, but we just stalled out offensively in the third quarter,'' Shock coach Gary Kloppenburg said. ``You can't do that against a team like the Storm because they have so many weapons.''

Jennifer Lacy scored 12 points and fellow reserve Riquna Williams had 11 to lead Tulsa (0-5), which has lost 11 straight dating to last season when it finished 3-31.

Seattle avoided matching its worst start since its inaugural 2000 season.

Little had seven points and Bird added five during a 12-3 run midway through the third quarter to give the Storm a 48-42 lead after trailing 39-36.

Bird scored 15 points, including three 3s, to help the Storm to a 36-35 halftime lead. She hit a 30-footer just before the buzzer to end the first quarter.

``That's Sue to me, I expect her to play well every night and when she doesn't I'm surprised,'' Little said about Bird snapping out of her two-game shooting slump.

Williams scored eight points in the first half for Tulsa, including five in the final 33 seconds. But the Shock went cold in the second half. They finished 17 of 60 (28.3 percent) from the field.

``We were hoping to get our first win tonight and it didn't go that way,'' Lacy said. ``We just didn't shoot well from the floor and that's the result. When you shoot 28 percent it's hard to win.''

Seattle shot 22 of 28 on free throws. Williams hit 10 of 12, including all six of her attempts in the first half.

The Storm played without three-time league MVP Lauren Jackson as she prepares with Australia for the upcoming Olympics.

Seattle coach Brian Agler notched his 212th career win to give him the most in women's professional basketball, surpassing Van Chancellor of the Houston Comets. Agler has won 140 WNBA games and won 72 in the old ABL.

``When we started back in 1996 you never knew how long these things would go,'' Agler said. ``Van Chancellor had a tremendous career with Houston. All of those wins with one team, four championships. That being said, and he would say the same thing, you've got to have great players.''

Agler named off a bunch of his players, including Bird, who bounced back with a season high after scoring 15, five and seven in her first three games.

``It's nice to see Sue really break out,'' Agler said.

• Shock: --
• Storm: --

• Shock: --
• Storm: --

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Key Arena, Seattle, WA
• Officials: #31 Amy Bonner, #45 Tom Mauer, #55 Eric Brewton, #46 Tim Greene
• Attendance: 7489
• Duration: 1:59