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Storm down Lynx in double overtime to even series

Oct 1, 2012 - 4:39 AM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Sue Bird scored six of her 22 points in the second overtime period to lead the Seattle Storm past the Minnesota Lynx, 86-79, and even their Western Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.

Bird added seven assists, while Tanisha Wright had 18 points and seven assists, and Lauren Jackson pulled down 14 rebounds for the Storm.

Rebekkah Brunson paced the Lynx with 22 points and 15 boards. Seimone Augustus contributed 20 points and Maya Moore finished with 12 for Minnesota, which had its seven-game postseason win streak snapped.

Minnesota carried a slim, 37-36, lead into the third quarter after a back-and- forth first half that saw eight lead changes and four ties, and opened the third frame with a 10-2 run to go ahead, 47-38.

The lead stretched to as much as 57-47 later in the third on a pair of Augustus free throws before Seattle began to battle back, reeling off an 18-6 run that carried into the fourth quarter to go on top, 65-63, with a little over three minutes left in regulation.

The Lynx scored the next six points to retake a four-point lead with 17.6 seconds remaining, but after a Bird layup and Taj McWilliams-Franklin went 1- for-2 at the foul line, Jackson connected on a 3-pointer from the right wing with 1.1 seconds left to knot the game at 70-70 and force overtime.

It was a one-possession game throughout the first overtime and Wright drilled a trey from the left wing with 23.9 seconds left to tie the game at 75 and move the game into double overtime following a missed jumper by Augustus.

The second OT belonged to the Storm, as Tina Thompson opened the frame with a 3-pointer to give Seattle a lead it would not lose as Minnesota shot just 2- for-7, while the Storm went 4-for-8 from the floor in the period, including a pair of threes by Bird.

Game 3 in the series will take place on Tuesday, with the winner facing Los Angeles in the Western Conference finals.