Storm-Sacramento Series Recap

Saturday, June 5, 2004 - Recap | Box | Video: 56k | 300k

Lennox hits the game-winner against Sacramento.
Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty

	Storm	36	29	65
	at Sacramento	32	31	63

The Storm was facing a lot of history in Sacramento on June 5. Not only was the Storm trying to snap a nine-game road losing streak (one off the franchise record of 10 that spanned the 2000 and 2001 seasons), Seattle had also never won in Sacramento, losing all seven matchups with the Monarchs at ARCO Arena. The Storm came out determined to change that streak, hitting 13 straight shots in the early going to build a huge 30-9 lead. Just as Phoenix had two nights earlier, Sacramento came charging back, cutting the deficit to four points at the half and continuing the onslaught to take a 47-45 lead with more than six minutes left in the game. The Storm led most of the rest of the way, but Sacramento tied the game at 61 on a Ticha Penicheiro free throw with 1:19 to play. Sheri Sam hit two free throws on the ensuing possession, and that lead held until Kara Lawson scored on a driving layup with eight seconds left. On its final possession, the Storm gave the ball to Betty Lennox, who drove the right baseline and scored with less than a second left. Sacramento still nearly sent the game to overtime when Yolanda Griffith, who finished with 20 points and 11 boards, missed a fadeaway at the buzzer, allowing the Storm to pick up a much-needed 65-63 win. All five Storm starters scored double-figures, with Sam leading the way with 17 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

	Sacramento	32	29	61
	at Storm	49	26	75

On July 3, the Storm again got off to a quick start at KeyArena. MVP Lauren Jackson started the game by hitting three straight three-pointers and scoring the first 11 points put up by either side. The Monarchs weren't done yet, cutting the lead to 26-22 with 7:48 left in the half. Jackson, however, wasn't done either. She scored two straight baskets to start a 9-0 run. The Storm would never lead by less than 10 points the rest of the game. Jackson finished the first half with 23 points, breaking her own franchise record. The Storm took a 17-point lead to halftime and was again able to build it as high as 30 points in the second half. Sacramento kept at it down the stretch, forcing Storm Coach Anne Donovan to return her starting lineup to the game to finish off a 75-61 win. Jackson ended the game with 32 points, falling short of her career high when she missed her last three shots, having run out of gas. She added 12 rebounds, tying her season high. Sue Bird added 16 points for the Storm. None of the Monarchs starters scored double-figures, with Hamchetou Maiga leading the way with a career-high 17 points off the bench.

Thursday, July 15, 2004 - Recap | Box

Walker averaged just 6.5 points against the Storm this season.
Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty

	Storm	29	37	66
	at Sacramento	32	31	63

The Storm headed to Sacramento July 15 for a matinee affair at ARCO Arena. More because of the Monarchs aggressive perimeter defense than the early start, the Storm struggled with its execution in the first half after a hot shooting start, but still trailed by just three at the break. Sacramento led 40-34 with 14:42 to play when the Storm's defense clamped down again. The Monarchs scored just two points in over five minutes as the Storm went from down six to up four before Kara Lawson ended the slump with a three. The Storm continued building the lead with fine play at both ends of the court until it reached its apex of nine points on a Michelle Greco jumper at the 3:23 mark. Ruthie Bolton, who led the Monarchs off the bench with 14 points, kept them in it with several big shots, including an off-balance three to cut the lead to three with 42 seconds to play. Thereafter, the Storm hit seven of eight free throws, but still led by just three when Sacramento got the ball with three seconds left. Ticha Penicheiro had a look to send the game into overtime, but missed as the Storm pulled out a much-needed 66-63 win, snapping a three-game road losing streak. Six Storm players scored at least seven points, with Jackson again leading the way, scoring 18 points and hitting 9-of-11 free throws.

	Sacramento	45	28	73
	at Storm	36	29	65

The Storm and Monarchs returned to action after the month-long Olympics break at KeyArena Sep. 1. A short-handed Storm roster - without Jackson, who returned to Australia to be with her ailing grandmother before her death, and forward Alicia Thompson (back spasms) - struggled in the first half. A 10-0 run gave the Monarchs an 11-point lead at the 7:40 mark, though the Storm rallied to get back within two. Any Storm momentum was lost when Sacramento scored twice in the final 10 seconds to take a nine-point lead to the half. After halftime, the Storm made several runs, but were never able to get any closer than five points. The last time that happened came on a Bird three with 1:46 left, but Sacramento's Tangela Smith answered with a jumper to seal the game. The Monarchs finished with a 73-65 victory largely on the back of Olympian Griffith, who had 12 points on 5-for-5 shooting in the second half and finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. The backcourt of Bird (18 points), Lennox (19) and Tully Bevilaqua (10) combined for 47 of the Storm's 65 points and the Storm was outscored in the paint 38-18 and outrebounded 35-28.

Storm-Sacramento Leaders

STORM