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TONIGHT'S NOTES |
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The Storm tied a franchise record with a sixth consecutive win. Seattle also won six straight from June 3-19, 2004.
Los Angeles dropped below .500 during the month of July for the first time since the 1998 season.
The Sparks have lost three in a row, their longest losing streak since July 30-August 6, 2003 (four games).
Betty Lennox's 3-pointer with 27.2 seconds left gave the Storm an insurmountable 74-70 lead. It was only the third lead of larger than three points in the second half by either team.
Lauren Jackson (17 points, 10 rebounds) recorded her eighth double-double of the season. She tied a season high by making 11 of her season-high 14 free-throw attempts.
Janell Burse recorded seven offensive rebounds, including five in the first half.
Lisa Leslie tied a WNBA record by making all eight of her field-goal attempts. It's previously been done three times (Becky Hammon at PHO, 6/21/01; Crystal Robinson at CLE, 8/17/03 and Kara Lawson at CON, 7/9/04).
Doneeka Hodges handed out a career-high eight assists.
Laura Macchi scored double-figures for the first time this season.
The Storm tied a franchise record by attempting 37 free throws (28-37).
The Sparks reached the penalty at the 12:56 mark of the second half.
Seattle outrebounded Los Angeles 16-8 in the second half.
Sue Bird hit her 200th career 3-pointer.
The Storm committed 20 turnovers, the second time this season with at least 20.
There were 13 ties and 13 lead changes, including eight apiece in the second half.
The Storm topped 10,000 in attendance for the third time this season at KeyArena.
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July 31, 2005
STORM COACH 
ANNE DONOVAN:
On winning a close game:
I have to tell you, I expected that from our girls tonight. There was an aura about them throughout the game. It didn’t matter up or down, you know we lost the lead a couple times in the second half, but they just had an aura about them that they weren’t losing this one. They were going to find a way to finish it, and big players came up big down the stretch for us.
On the Storm's confidence:
We walked off that floor with swagger. That’s what we’ve been after all year. So how we get on that bus Tuesday and go to Indianapolis is really the next question for us.
On the key play in the game:
The dagger for me was JB’s (
Janell Burse's) offensive board. A three-point game and missed free throws still gives them an opportunity to stay in the game. That was the dagger. That completely took the wind out of their sails. And that was a big as 
Betty (Lennox)’s 3. Betty’s 3 is what everybody will talk about, but JB’s offensive rebound was huge.
GUARD BETTY LENNOX:
On her key 3-pointer:
I was just hoping that it went in. The thing about is I have confidence in myself.
On the game:
I think LA played really well and the Storm played really well. It was just a great game tonight. You know the better team that put it together at the end was the team that won, which was us.
On the Storm's confidence:
I guess you could say we got somewhat of a swagger, but we know to keep our cool. We know the goal that we’re trying to reach, and we know what we need to do to get there.
LOS ANGELES HEAD COACH HENRY BIBBY:
On the game:
I thought we played a very, very good game. The discrepancy in foul shots - 37-12, that’s a big difference. We never got into the bonus so we never had a chance … but the team really fought. They played well and hung in there. When you’re playing a good team on the road you have to stay in there the whole game, which we did but had a couple turnovers that just hurt us at the end.
On the rebounding differential:
They’re big and long. We’re not as big as they are, but we have to get more rebounds from our guards and we should be fine.
On Lennox's 3:
I don’t know what happened there. I know she was wide open. Reading the paper, I know her arm has been hurt so you kind of want her to be the one to shoot it. You know, the adrenaline is flowing, her arm is feeling good and she’s playing well so she knocks the shot down.
On positives in the game:
We played hard and with passion. We played with a purpose and executed. I thought we did a lot of good things that we haven’t done on the road. We have our group coming together now and when we get everyone back, it’s going to make us better.
CENTER LISA LESLIE:
On the rebounding differential:
Just rebounding. That’s our Achilles heel this year and that’s something we really have to continue working on … rebounding and boxing out. 20-37 (rebound differential) - that’s the game right there.
On the foul differential:
When you look at it - 37 free-throw attempts to 12 … that’s the ballgame, too.
On the end of the game:
We made the effort, but the ball didn’t bounce our way. We were right there - loose balls, jump balls, everything. We played hard.
On the playoff atmosphere:
You have great fans. The support that you get here is awesome. It’s an exciting arena to play in, too. I think having the fans involved and really rallying behind them … any time we’d go ahead you could really feel the energy of the crowd.
2005 Postgame Quotes/Notes Archive
