Storm top Mystics

SEATTLE – Janell Burse scored 14 points and Sue Bird added 13 to help the Seattle Storm shoot their way to a 78-68 win over the Washington Mystics on Tuesday night.

Seattle went on a 31-9 run early on to turn the game into a rout. The Storm hit five 3-pointers during the spurt and took a 39-16 advantage midway through the second quarter. They led 47-24 at the half.

Monique Currie and Marissa Coleman each had 13 points to lead Washington (13-15), which remained in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Washington cut the deficit to 10 in the fourth quarter, but could get no closer.

The Storm (16-11) remained two games in front of third-place Los Angeles in the Western Conference.