Bird’s 31 points pace Storm past Mercury

Sue Bird (pictured) scored 31 points and the Seattle Storm earned an 83-68 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday in Seattle. Camille Little added 18 and Ewelina Kobryn scored 10 for the Storm (8-9). DeWanna Bonner led Phoenix (4-13) with 12 points. Bird’s run began in the first quarter when she scored 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting, outscoring Phoenix 13-12. Bird scored 13 more in the second quarter though she recorded her only two missed shots – a free throw, and a 3-pointer at the end of the quarter. She closed the half 9 for 10 from the field for 26 points. A third-quarter 3-pointer pushed Bird to 29 points, her most since her career-high 33 points set her rookie season in 2002. She sat most of the fourth quarter. – Associated Press