Final - OT
Storm outlast Mercury, 95-89 in OT
May 23, 2010 - 4:48 AM PHOENIX(AP) -- Swin Cash scored seven of her 18 points in overtime and the Seattle Storm beat the defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury 95-89 on Saturday night after blowing an 11-point lead with 4 minutes left in regulation.Lauren Jackson had 25 points and eight rebounds to lead the Storm, while Tanisha Wright added 14 points and nine rebounds. Camille Little had 14 points, including a layup with 2:58 left in the extra period that gave Seattle the lead for good.
It was the third consecutive overtime game between the teams and it broke Seattle's three-game losing streak to Phoenix. The Storm won their third straight to open the season while handing the Mercury their first loss in two games.
DeWanna Bonner had 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead Phoenix, which missed four of six shots in overtime.
Cash sank two free throws with 31 seconds left to give Seattle a 93-89 lead. Diana Taurasi missed a long 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining and Sue Bird hit two more free throws with 19 seconds left to seal it.
The Mercury scored the last 11 points of regulation to force the extra period. Wright's basket with 4:08 left gave Seattle an 82-71 lead, but Bonner scored five points during the closing run.
Both teams had a chance to win in the final minute of regulation. Little had an open shot but tried to pass the ball and then grabbed it with 20.7 seconds left, getting called for traveling. Tameka Johnson and Bonner missed shots for Phoenix and then Wright missed for Seattle in the final seconds.
Johnson had 15 points and five assists while Penny Taylor and Candice Dupree scored 14 apiece for Phoenix.
Jackson had 15 first-half points and the Storm scored 17 points off 15 Mercury turnovers to take a 44-40 lead at the break. Phoenix stayed close by making 13 of its first 20 shots and shooting 58 percent (15 of 26) from the field in the first 20 minutes.
But the Mercury made just one miscue in the third quarter to stay within 66-63 going into the final period.
Jackson has averaged 25.2 points a game in the last 13 meetings between the teams, dating to 2006.
- WNBA
SEATTLE 95
PHOENIX 89 FINAL IN 1ST OT
May 23 12:18 AM - 125
roots - WNBA
SEATTLE 26
PHOENIX 21 END, 1ST QTR
May 22 10:23 PM
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