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Cash's double-double leads Storm over Silver Stars

Jul 7, 2009 - 11:14 PM SEATTLE(AP) -- Lauren Jackson usually leaves her mark on the stat sheet. When she doesn't, the Seattle Storm generally struggle to win.

They pulled out a victory on Tuesday, however, when Jackson's teammates stepped up.

Swin Cash led the way for Seattle with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds, Sue Bird added 17 more, and Camille Little scored 12 in the Storm's 66-53 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars.

"I think later on we will be able to reflect on this game knowing that we had to really dig down deep to have success," Storm coach Brian Agler said. "Those are the types of games you are going to see late in the season. Even though we're only a third of the way through it, we're starting to see those right now. Hopefully we will be fortunate enough to get in the playoffs, and that's the kind of games its going to be."

Just because Jackson struggled to score, it doesn't mean the Silver Stars were able to completely stop her. She still pulled down 12 rebounds and controlled the lane enough to create options for her teammates.

Jackson was scoreless in the first half, going 0 for 6 from the field and 0 for 2 at the free throw line. It was the first time since the Los Angeles Sparks shut her down in the second half on May 21, 2005, that Jackson was held without a point in a half.

"She had a tough night, she missed some shots. They were really congesting her," Agler said. "I told Lauren at halftime, 'Look, you are going to have to find your own way.' We can't just constantly force the ball to you, because then we get out of what we want to do offensively.

"We've got to be more balanced as an offensive team. She's a team player. She totally understood and she really made our offensive run."

Jackson finally got on the board midway through the third quarter, making one of two free throws and then scoring on a layup on Seattle's next possession. Her points were a part of a 10-3 run over the first eight minutes of the second half that gave the Storm a 43-37 advantage.

"I just had an off day - maybe it was the 7:30 wake up. I don't know," Jackson joked about the noon start.

"I was definitely off the mark a little bit in the shooting area, but fortunately I think when you've got a team that can step up and get wins, especially against a team like that, it's huge."

Bird helped the Storm grab a 53-44 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Becky Hammon made four straight free throws to cut the Silver Stars' deficit to five.

Cash scored the next four points to push the lead back to nine. With 3:20 left, Bird connected on an off-balance, right-handed desperation shot from the right wing as the shot clock expired to give the Storm an 11-point advantage, their first double-digit lead of the game.

"It was a difficult win," Bird said. "We definitely didn't play our best. There were times they took the lead in the second half and there were times when, maybe a week ago, we would have thrown in the towel. But we were able to experience those games in (Los Angeles), able to experience those games in Phoenix, ... but we were able to grind it out."

Hammon topped the Silver Stars with 13 points. Sophia Young and Belinda Snell each added nine.

Notes: Storm F Ashley Walker was scratched from the lineup due to an injury to her right big toe. ... Silver Stars G Shanna Crossley didn't make the trip because of an injured left knee. ... Seattle outrebounded San Antonio 41-17.