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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Storm win last game before break

Associated Press

Olympian Lauren Jackson scored 25 points and the Seattle Storm defeated the Charlotte Sting 87-55 Sunday night at Seattle.

It was the last WNBA game before the league takes a month-long break to allow its players to participate in the Athens Games.

Jackson, who will suit up for the Australian team in Greece, was dominant inside and out. The WNBA MVP grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Storm (17-8), who have won seven of eight.

Seattle used a 17-1 run late in the first half to build a 46-26 lead at the break. Jackson scored six during the surge and led all scorers at the break with 13 and five rebounds.

Fellow Olympian Sue Bird added 16 points and five assists for the Storm. Bird, along with the Sting’s Dawn Staley will represent the U.S. squad.

The WNBA All-Stars will play the U.S. National team Thursday night in New York.

Reserve Nicole Powell scored 14 points and Charlotte Scott-Richardson added nine for the Sting.

Charlotte has lost six of eight heading into the break and is winless in four games in Seattle. The 87 points allowed was a season-high for the Sting, surpassing the 82 allowed at Los Angeles June 9th.

Seattle was almost flawless in the first half, committing zero turnovers and out-rebounding the Sting 21-7. The Storm finished the game with a season-low seven turnovers.

The next game for both teams is September 1. Seattle will be home to face Sacramento, while Charlotte plays Connecticut at home.

Mystics 82, Mercury 62: At Washington, Chasity Melvin scored 17 points and rookie Alana Beard added 16 points and eight rebounds to lead Washington over Phoenix.

Stacey Dales-Schuman had 14 points and Nakia Sanford added 11 for the Mystics, who shot a season-high 48.5 percent.

Washington has won two straight games without Chamique Holdsclaw, the league’s second-leading scorer.

Lynx 59, Shock 58: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Svetlana Abrosimova scored 12 points and Tamika Williams had 11 points and nine rebounds to lift Minnesota past Detroit.

The Lynx had 25 turnovers in the game, but limited the Shock to 37.3 percent shooting.

Swin Cash had 16 points, the only Shock player in double figures.

Trailing the entire second half, Detroit closed within 59-58 with 7.8 seconds left on a layup by Cash. The Shock had a chance to win after Nicole Ohlde missed two free throws with 6.3 seconds left. But Deanna Nolan shot an airball as time expired.