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Storm rallies to beat Lynx 79-76

May 20, 2010 - 5:02 AM SEATTLE(AP) -- Swin Cash scored 24 points and led a fourth-quarter rally as the Seattle Storm defeated the Minnesota Lynx 79-76 on Wednesday night.

Lauren Jackson and Camille Little had 18 points apiece for Seattle (2-0), which beat the Lynx at home for the seventh straight game.

Monica Wright scored 19 and Lindsay Whalen 17 to lead Minnesota (1-2). The Lynx led by as many as 11 in the first half and by nine in the second half.

"I'm always confident we're going to win," Cash said. "I feel our core group, when we're out there on the floor, we have the best opportunity to come back and take a lead or execute down the stretch."

Little hit a 3-pointer to give the Storm a 73-70 lead with 2:10 remaining.

Whalen made two free throws to make it 73-72 before Cash responded with two free throws and an inside basket.

Nicky Anosike scored two baskets for the Lynx to cut the lead to 77-76 before Jackson made a putback to make it 79-76 with 8.1 seconds left.

Charde Houston missed a 3-pointer from the left corner just before the buzzer that could have tied the game.

"Seattle made some huge shots when they needed to," Whalen said. "We made some big plays down the stretch as well."

Wright and Rashanda McCants had four points each early in the final quarter to help keep the Lynx ahead.

Cash and Jackson hit 3-pointers midway through the fourth quarter to pull the Storm within 68-66.

Cash and Little had six points apiece in the third quarter to help the Storm cut a nine-point deficit to 60-55 after three quarters.

Whalen had 13 points and Wright 11 to help the Lynx to a 45-40 halftime lead after the Storm had cut an 11-point lead to one point.

"It was a hard-fought game," Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. "We put ourselves in position to win the game. Obviously, they made some clutch baskets. Jackson's offensive rebound with 8 seconds to go was a backbreaker."

Cash shot 7 for 11 from the field and 9 for 12 from the free throw line.

"Swin always looks for opportunities to get down there and post up smaller guards," Seattle point guard Sue Bird said. "We knew they were switching and putting a smaller guard on Swin and we were really able to take advantage of that."

Minnesota played without stars Seimone Augustus (knee) and Candice Wiggins (knee). Both are expected to be back in June.

The Lynx last won in Seattle 86-81 in overtime in 2005.