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Jackson helps Storm rally past Fever, 85-81

Jun 26, 2010 - 5:37 AM SEATTLE(AP) -- Lauren Jackson scored 28 points, including a reverse layup with 19.3 seconds left, Sue Bird hit three straight 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and the Seattle Storm rallied to beat the Indiana Fever 85-11 on Friday night.

Swin Cash added 21 points to help the WNBA-leading Storm (12-2) win their third straight since a 72-65 loss at Indiana on June 17. Bird finished with 16 points.

The Storm overcame an 11-point, third-quarter deficit.

"It felt like a playoff game," Bird said. "They're a very good team, a very tough team. It's good to face things like that. We showed our character and never gave up. We never do, especially in this building."

Katie Douglas had 29 points, just one short of her career high, for the Fever (8-5). Tameka Catchings added 17 before fouling out with 44.6 seconds left.

Indiana had a 60-49 lead before going scoreless for the last 4:39 of the third quarter. Seattle finished the quarter on a 9-0 run to get to 60-58.

"Our play in the second half was a lot better, and the third quarter defensively was very good," Storm coach Brian Agler said. "Tonight was a game where the star player sort of rose - Catchings and Douglas for them, then Lauren and Swin and Sue hitting big shots for us."

The third of Bird's three consecutive 3-pointers put Seattle up 71-70 with 4:20 left. Indiana managed one more tie at 74, then a 3-pointer by Cash put the Storm ahead for good at 77-74 with 1:57 to go.

"Everyone took it into their hands," Jackson said. "At the end of the day, everyone knew what they needed to do, and they got it done."

Down 83-81, Indiana nearly had a chance at a tying or winning shot, knocking the ball away in the Storm's front court with 1.2 seconds left. Officials reviewed the play, then ruled that Seattle would retain possession. Jackson was fouled on the inbounds play and hit the two clinching free throws with 1.2 seconds left.

"We played well in spurts. But obviously, they played well longer in spurts, and that's a huge reason why they were able to win the game," Douglas said. "We had an 11-point lead at one point, and they kept hitting. We weren't hitting and then we weren't getting stops, so when you combine those things with a team of this caliber, it's tough."

Seattle hit 51.9 percent for the game (28 of 54) and took 32 free throws, but hit just 19 (59.4 percent). Indiana hit 51.8 percent (29 of 56), but went to the line just 18 times, hitting 14.

"They're very good at home, and we had a chance to win," Fever coach Lin Dunn said. "At the end of the day, the fact that they took 32 free throws and we only took 18 was a factor."