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Storm roll past Sky for 13th straight win

Jul 31, 2010 - 5:07 AM SEATTLE (AP) -- The Seattle Storm showed the Sky how much they have improved since a rare loss two months ago at Chicago.

Swin Cash had 16 points to lead five players in double figures as the Storm beat the Sky 80-60 Friday night for their 13th consecutive win.

Lauren Jackson added 14 points, Svetlana Abrosimova had 13, Sue Bird 11 and Camille Little 10 for Seattle (22-2). Bird also had eight assists as the Storm, who have already clinched the Western Conference title, improved to 13-0 at home.

"That really wasn't our team at that point in the season," Bird said. "They played really well and kind of put us back on our heels and we never figured it out. We've learned a lot since that game about ourselves and to come out here and show that against them felt good."

The Storm, who lost 84-75 at Chicago on May 27 to end Seattle's 4-0 start and give Chicago its first win after opening 0-4, have won 18 of 19 since then. Seattle is also undefeated since a 72-65 setback at Indiana on June 17.

"They are clicking," said Fowles, who led the Sky with 13 points. "They've put all of the puzzle pieces together. Everyone on that team is a threat, not just Lauren and Sue. You have to guard everybody."

Chicago (12-14) has lost three of four to drop to last place in the Eastern Conference.

Bird hit three 3-pointers in the second quarter as Seattle built a 55-31 lead at halftime. The Storm shot 8 of 14 on 3-pointers in the first half and finshed with 10 3s.

"We were just hitting," Bird said. "We were getting really good looks, open looks and everybody who got them was knocking them down. Sometimes it is simple as that."

Seattle increased the advantage to 27 points in the third and fourth quarters.

"We actually were present and engaged in playing our style of play," Cash said. "We were aggressive defensively. Our assignment was there in regards to Sylvia and everything was just working. On offense we were hitting shots early on."

The Storm are closing in on the best start in WNBA history - 25-2 set by Houston in 1998. The Comets finished that season 27-3 en route to its second of four straight titles in the league's first four years.

Cash scored 10, Jackson eight and Little seven to help give the Storm a 27-13 in the first quarter.

Jackson and Cash sat out the fourth quarter as the Storm held on to the large lead.

"Lauren and I were sitting there and I didn't know should I or shouldn't I put my shirt on," Cash said. "I was happy to sit there and cheer on my teammates."