Storm-Silver Stars Preview

By TOM CASTRO
Posted Sep 13 2012 1:29PM

The San Antonio Silver Stars stopped a five-game losing streak with a critical road win their last time out. Still in a tight battle for the second seed in the Western Conference, they'll try to end a three-game home skid Friday night against the struggling Seattle Storm.

The Silver Stars (18-11) ended their surprising skid with a 78-67 victory over last-place Tulsa on Wednesday. San Antonio had won 15 of 17 before suddenly falling apart in the next five games.

Danielle Robinson had 12 points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds as the Silver Stars took advantage of a 6-23 Shock team.

"We needed this," coach Dan Hughes said. "... Defensively, I was pleased with our efforts. That's a building block. We needed that after the little skid we've been on."

Hughes' team was better at the defensive end after giving up 87.4 points per game during the losing streak, but the third quarter Wednesday showed there's still room for improvement. The offensively challenged Shock outscored the Silver Stars 29-13 in the period.

Now it remains to be seen whether San Antonio can overcome the late-season slump and pass Los Angeles for second place in the West. The Silver Stars are right behind the Sparks for that spot with five games remaining, but they'll have to play better at home, having lost three straight there after opening 9-1 on their own court.

Four of San Antonio's final five contests are at the AT&T Center.

They'll get to face another slumping opponent Friday, as Seattle has suffered lopsided losses in its last two games. The most recent was particularly bad, 72-48 at Indiana on Wednesday.

While Seattle (13-16) is headed to playoffs, it certainly hasn't been surging to the end of the regular season. Lauren Jackson has returned to join Sue Bird, but the team hasn't been able to find a rhythm with the two superstars.

The Storm's only two wins in the last five games have come against Tulsa.

Bird rested Wednesday and Tanisha Wright did not play because of a groin strain, leaving the Storm without their starting backcourt. Jackson was unable to pick up the slack, finishing with four points on 2-for-10 shooting and committing seven turnovers.

The former MVP, who has averaged 19.0 points in her career, has scored 11.0 per contest in her seven games this season.

Seattle had 28 turnovers Wednesday and posted its lowest point total since 2004. The Storm were blown out even though the Fever shot 33.0 percent from the floor.

"Without our two top point guards, things were difficult," center Ann Wauters said. " ... We need to move on to prepare for the playoffs and we need to play better as a team."

The Storm and Silver Stars have split two meetings this season, with each winning at home. They meet again next Friday at Seattle.

Silver Stars silence Storm 90-66

Posted Sep 14 2012 11:36PM

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Becky Hammon scored 25 points and the San Antonio Silver Stars beat the Seattle Storm 90-66 on Friday night.

Sophia Young added 19 points, Shameka Christon 13 and Danielle Robinson 10 for San Antonio (19-11).

Tina Thompson and Ann Wauters each had 12 points and Svetlana Abrosimova added 11 for Seattle (13-17). Sue Bird (hip flexor) and Lauren Jackson (strained hamstring) both missed the game with injuries.

The Silver Stars had a season-high 15 steals and outscored Seattle 16-0 on fastbreak points.

``That's what has been missing in that little skid that we had - our defensive presence, our activity level and energy level,'' Hammon said. ``I feel like now we are starting to find our groove again. We're starting to play the way we want to play. It all starts on the defensive end.''

Hammon went 5 for 7 on 3-pointers after going a combined 5 for 21 from long distance in her previous four games.

San Antonio, which had lost three straight at home, had a steal on five of the Storm's first seven possessions. The steals only resulted in a 4-2 lead off layups by Hammon and Christon, but a needed defensive tone was established.

``We wanted to get more aggressive in the passing lanes,'' Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said. ``We wanted to pressure the ball. We wanted to play to a situation where the turnover feature was more a package than we were playing to. We felt like we were settling a lot to just play position defense and I think we are at our best when we dictate defensively.''

Robinson's 15-foot jumper gave San Antonio a 15-11 lead, but Seattle closed the final four minutes of the first on a 14-5 run. Thompson and Tanisha Wright each made a 3-pointer during the run for a 25-20 lead after the first.

Hammon scored three straight baskets to cut Seattle's lead to 27-26 with 6 minutes left in the first half. Christon's 3-pointer a minute later gave the Silver Stars a 29-27 lead, their first since 15-13.

Christon and Hammon hit consecutive 3-pointers to give San Antonio a 37-31 lead, but Seattle responded with a short jumper by Wauters and a 3-pointer by Shekinna Stricklen.

``They shot the ball well from 3, especially Becky and Christon,'' Seattle coach Brian Agler said. ``They got some second opportunities. They scored off turnovers. They got to the free throw line. They scored 50, almost 60 points in those three areas.''

Holding a 38-36 lead at the half, the Silver Stars increased the edge to double digits in the third quarter.

Hammon's 3-pointer capped an 8-0 run by San Antonio to open the third, prompting a timeout by Agler. Katie Smith hit a 3-pointer out of the timeout to cut the lead to 46-39, but the Silver Stars' lead grew to as many as 12 points in the quarter.

``We just started really bad with the first four minutes, but then we came back,'' Abrosimova said. ``The game is a game of runs, (but) our runs were not as good as theirs.''

Young scored 13 points in the third quarter, going 4 for 4 from the field and 5 for 5 on free throws.

Hammon hit her fifth 3-pointer for an 86-63 lead with 2 minutes left after San Antonio had a rebound on successive 3-point misses by Christon and Hammon.

San Antonio went 6 for 20 in the final quarter, but maintained its lead by outrebounding Seattle 22-13 in the second half and forcing 10 turnovers.

Silver Stars reserve Shenice Johnson scored all nine of her points in the second half and finished with six rebounds and two steals.

``(Coach Hughes) just told me to clear my mind, play your game,'' Johnson said. ``He told me that he has been watching me my whole career and that he has not been satisfied with the way I have been playing since the break. He ripped me to shreds to be honest with you, but tonight I felt like I responded.''

• Storm: --
• Silver Stars: --

• Storm: --
• Silver Stars: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
• Officials: #8 Daryl Humphrey, #28 Angelica Suffren, #38 Lamont Simpson
• Attendance: 7109
• Duration: 1:42