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

Breanna Stewart scores 20, Storm clinch playoff spot

Seattle Storm center Breanna Stewart shoots over Connecticut Sun’s Morgan Tuck (33) and Jasmine Thomas, center, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Friday, July 20, 2018, in Uncasville, Conn. (Sean D. Elliot / Associated Press)
Associated Press

SEATTLE – Breanna Stewart scored 20 points, Sue Bird had 14 points and 11 assists and the Seattle Storm clinched the first WNBA playoff berth this season with an 85-75 victory over the defending champion Minnesota Lynx on Friday night.

Stewart drove the lane and finished in traffic to give Seattle a 79-69 lead, and her left-handed layup on the next possession was good for a 12-point advantage.

Natasha Howard had 15 points, six rebounds and five steals for Seattle (21-7), which recorded its first 20-win season since 2011. The Storm were 7 of 14 from 3-point range in the first half and finished 12 of 24 from behind the arc.

Sylvia Fowles led Minnesota (15-12) with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Maya Moore was limited to seven points on 2-of-9 shooting.

Minnesota opened the second half on a 10-2 run for a 48-39 lead. But Stewart scored six straight points as Seattle outscored the Lynx 22-9 the rest of the quarter for a 61-57 lead.

Seattle had its third sellout in a row with a crowd of 12,064.