Storm move into tie for second place

SEATTLE – Lauren Jackson had nine of her 14 points in the third quarter to help lead the Seattle Storm past the Tulsa Shock 74-57 in Thursday night WNBA play.

Tanisha Wright scored 12 points, Camille Little had 10 and Swin Cash nine for Seattle (16-12), which moved into a tie with Phoenix for second place in the Western Conference. The Storm have won three straight since Jackson returned from a hip injury.

Jackson has averaged 15.7 points in the three games after missing 20 games.

Tiffany Jackson and Sheryl Swoopes each scored 12 points and Amber Holt had 10 for Tulsa (1-25), which extended its WNBA record to 20 straight losses.

Defending champion Seattle hopes to overtake Phoenix for second as the top two conference teams earn homecourt advantage in the playoffs. The Storm are 12-2 at home and 4-10 on the road.

Jackson scored nine and Cash had five to key a 28-16 run in the third quarter and give the Storm a 56-41 lead. Jackson hit two 3-pointers in the quarter to help offset Holt’s eight points, including two 3s.

Seattle led 28-25 at halftime as Tiffany Jackson scored 10 to help keep the Shock close.

Despite Tulsa’s nearly 7-minute scoreless drought to start the second quarter, the Shock closed the first half with six straight points.

The Storm struggled as well with a 4-minute scoreless stretch early in the second quarter and shot 3 for 16 from the field in the period. Jackson and Cash were a combined 1 for 11 in the first half, including Cash’s 0-for-5 effort.

Tulsa’s only win this season came on June 16, 77-59 against Washington.