No sequel for Lynx storybook ending

BY MIKE PEDEN

Just like Wednesday's victory against the Eastern Conference leading Atlanta Dream, the Lynx made the Western Conference leader Seattle Storm sweat for the entire game Saturday afternoon.

Unfortunately, poor shooting from the floor and the free-throw line negated a brilliant defensive effort, and the Storm edged the Lynx for the second time this season with a 73-71 win at Target Center.

There was also Seattle star Lauren Jackson to deal with. Kept in check through three quarters, the Australian burst through in the fourth, scoring 14 of her game-high 26 points in the final stanza.

"We don't panic. All the girls step up and make big plays. That's when we've been able to pull out games," Jackson said.

The biggest play came with the Lynx (7-12) up 71-70 with just under a minute to play. The Storm (18-2) were committed to using the three-point game to generate offense, and the plan worked to perfection when guard Tanisha Wright drained three of her eight points from the right corner with 52.6 seconds left.

"The ball was in Sue's hands, Lauren set a screen, that was pretty much it," Wright said, who also recorded 10 assists.

The Lynx had one last chance after the Storm turned the ball over on a tipped jump ball, but forward Seimone Augustus could not make the short-range jumper, ending the Lynx's chance at defeating both number-one teams in the East and West.

"That's the second game where someone who's not Lauren or Sue (Bird) knocks down a huge three. There's a reason they're 18-2," said Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen, who finished with 13 points and six assists.

The Storm did not help themselves by committing a season-high 23 turnovers, but made up for those mistakes by going a perfect 15 of 15 from the free throw line. Conversely, the Lynx had just 13 turnovers, but shot just 66% from the free throw line and scored only 12 points in the fourth quarter to Seattle's 21.

Seattle was also hampered by forward Camille Little fouling out with 7:16 left in the fourth. Foul trouble limited her to two points in eight minutes of play.

"If you talked to anyone in this locker room, they wouldn't be satisfied with the way we played. We need to get better," Jackson said.

Although the Lynx have now lost the first two games of the regular season series with the Storm, they sense their efforts will not go unnoticed in the two meetings yet to come.

"To know that you lose to the best team in the league by two points, we're really optimistic," said Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson, who led the team with 19 points and nine rebounds.

The Lynx will test their growth against San Antonio next Thursday, a pivotal match with the West still shuffling.

"We make some good reads, we just got to put the ball in the basket," Brunson said.