Sun-Storm Preview

By JUSTIN EINHORN
Posted Sep 15 2012 2:42PM

While the Connecticut Sun continue to lead the Eastern Conference, the sub-.500 Seattle Storm are coming off three straight blowout losses.

However, it's the Sun who appear to be much more desperate for a victory Sunday night when they visit Seattle.

Connecticut (22-9) has a 1 1/2-game lead in the East, but dropping this matchup would leave the team even with second-place Indiana in the loss column. The Sun host the Fever on Wednesday.

Seattle (13-17), meanwhile, is locked into the No. 4 seed in the West and seems more concerned with just being healthy going into the playoffs. The Storm have dropped their three games this week by an average of 21.3 points.

"As we get our group back we feel like we can be much improved going into the playoffs," coach Brian Agler said.

Former MVP Lauren Jackson (strained hamstring) sat out Friday's 90-66 defeat in San Antonio, though guard Tanisha Wright (groin) returned after missing Wednesday's 72-48 loss at Indiana. Sue Bird (hip flexor) missed both of those games, and it's uncertain if she or Jackson will be back in action Sunday.

"It's one of those things where I've had it for a really long time and it's about managing it," Bird said. "... Luckily, we have an opportunity here where we've secured the fourth spot, we can't really catch the third spot and we're just trying to gear up for the playoffs. With that comes trying to play better as a team as well as those that are banged up getting healthy."

The Sun have been dealing with injury woes as well, including forward Asjha Jones not playing since the Olympic break due to a strained Achilles.

League MVP candidate Tina Charles missed a game for the first time in her career Wednesday due to a groin strain, though Connecticut rolled to a 100-78 win in Phoenix. Charles returned Friday with 21 points and 13 rebounds, but she also had five of the Sun's 19 turnovers in a 93-82 loss at Los Angeles.

"This was a major disappointment tonight, because that's what you need to do better to win in the playoffs," coach Mike Thibault said. "We've been a low turnover team all year, but in a couple of our losses, we've had bad turnover games that have come back to haunt us, and this is one of them."

Thibault's team had only eight turnovers in its lone meeting with the Storm this season but lost 89-83 at home July 1. Charles, the league leader with 17 double-doubles, grabbed 14 rebounds but was held to 13 points on 4-of-20 shooting even though fellow center Jackson didn't play.

Kara Lawson had 22 points in that matchup, the only time in 12 games this season the Sun have lost when she scores at least 17. Lawson had a career-high 30 points in Wednesday's win but was held to seven Friday.

The Sun have lost their last three visits to Seattle.

Montgomery lifts Sun past Storm, 60-58

Posted Sep 17 2012 12:16AM

SEATTLE (AP) Renee Montgomery moved the Connecticut Sun closer to clinching the Eastern Conference title.

Montgomery made two free throws with 14.4 seconds left to help the Sun beat the short-handed Seattle Storm 60-58 on Sunday night.

``It was ugly, but we'll take it,'' Sun coach Mike Thibault said.

Tina Charles agreed with her coach.

``It was one of the ugliest games I've ever played in in my life,'' Charles said. ``The turnovers they had (25), the turnovers we had (12). It was really frustrating, especially when you're a No. 1 team and you're going into the playoffs. You don't want to have these lapses going into the playoffs. Everything needs to be smooth sailing.''

Connecticut shot 33.3 percent (23 of 69) from the field, including 2 of 14 from 3-point range.

Montgomery drew a foul against Camille Little to set up the free throws that made it 59-58.

``A little bit of skill, a little bit of luck and a little bit of bad defense on their part leaving their feet,'' Thibault said about Montgomery's pump fake to draw the foul.

Montgomery thought about taking a jumper before her pump fake sent Little into the air.

``I was going to take the shot, then I saw her jump,'' Montgomery said. ``When somebody jumps in the air, you have to draw the foul on them, especially in that situation where the shot clock is running down.''

Connecticut improved to 23-9 and moved two games ahead of Indiana atop the Eastern Conference.

Kara Lawson led the Sun with 13 points, Charles added 12, and Mistie Mims had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Shekinna Stricklen scored 12 points to lead Seattle (13-18), but the rookie missed two shots in the final seconds. The Storm have lost four straight.

``I thought it was a great effort and we definitely put ourselves in position to win the game,'' Storm coach Brian Agler said. ``I feel bad for our team that we didn't come through. Hand it to Connecticut. They made some plays down the stretch. They hit some free throws and made a stop when they needed to.''

Tanisha Wright had 10 points and eight assists for the Storm but had seven turnovers. Little added 11 points.

Tina Thompson and Katie Smith hit consecutive 3-pointers to give the Storm a 56-54 lead with 2:21 remaining, and Smith added a 13-foot jumper to make it 58-54 with 1:22 left.

Lawson hit a 3 to cut the lead to 58-57 with 51.5 seconds left.

The Storm played without regular starters Sue Bird (strained right hip flexor) and Lauren Jackson (strained hamstring). Seattle, fourth in the Western Conference, has clinched its ninth consecutive playoff berth.

Bird missed her third straight game and Jackson her second because of the injuries. Both are listed as day-to-day with three regular season games remaining. The Storm will host Chicago on Tuesday.

Wright made two free throws early in the fourth quarter to put Seattle ahead 45-43, its first lead since 7-6 early in the first quarter.

Charles scored four straight to help put the Sun up by seven late in the third quarter. But Stricklen hit a 3 with 15 seconds left for the Storm to cut it to 41-39 at the end of the period.

• Sun: --
• Storm: --

• Sun: --
• Storm: --

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: Key Arena, Seattle, WA
• Officials: #9 Denise Brooks, #55 Eric Brewton, #35 Billy Smith
• Attendance: 7748
• Duration: 1:55