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Storm-Mystics Preview

Sep 2, 2009 - 5:28 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Seattle (19-11) at Washington (14-15), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Their longest winning streak of the season has the Seattle Storm thinking about a run at the top seed in the Western Conference. Any playoff spot would be fine with the Washington Mystics.

Both teams try to get closer to their goals Thursday as the Storm, playing without star Lauren Jackson, continue their road trip in Washington looking for a seventh consecutive victory.

Seattle (19-11) has clinched a sixth consecutive postseason berth, and a six-game winning streak has allowed coach Brian Agler's team to put pressure on Phoenix, which has held first place in the West nearly all season.

"Our goal is still to win the conference," Agler said. "Even though we're in (the playoffs), we're still trying to fight for position out in the West."

The Storm's last two victories have come without Jackson, their leading scorer and rebounder, who is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in her back.

Camille Little helped pick up the slack with team highs of 17 points and 13 rebounds in a 65-58 win over New York on Tuesday. Seattle played its typically tough defense, holding the Liberty to 33.8 percent shooting.

The Storm, limiting opponents to 72.5 points per game - second-lowest in the WNBA - may have to continue to rely on that defense.

"We played a lot without (Jackson) last year, and this is our fourth game without her this year," Agler said. "We've got a group of competitors ... and they find a way to raise their games together, sort of a collective effort. They just think they can win games. That's the bottom line."

The Mystics (14-15) may also have to make do without their leading scorer, and they will likely need a few more wins if they hope to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006. They are tied for third in the East with Detroit, but Chicago and Connecticut are within one game as the four teams jockey for the final two spots.

An 81-75 win over Minnesota on Sunday was critical for Washington after it had lost four of five and six of eight. The Mystics bounced back behind Crystal Langhorne, who led the team with 18 points and 10 boards.

"She's one of our most consistent players and we need her to score," coach Julie Plank said. "I'm trying to run some more stuff for her offensively because she shoots about 57 percent from the field. ... She's just a warrior in there."

The Mystics will need Langhorne's offensive contributions even more if Alana Beard remains out. Washington's top scorer left with a sprained ankle Sunday and has been struggling lately, averaging 7.3 points on 27.6 percent shooting in her last three games.

"She's been playing through a lot of pain right now, and that's what a lot of teams are doing this time of year," Plank said.

The Storm beat Washington at home 78-68 on Aug. 25, but were blown out 89-57 with Jackson sidelined in their visit to the Verizon Center last July 20.