Jewell Loyd Scores Game-High 24 Points; Seattle’s Record Stands at 6-10
SEATTLE – Despite a game-high 24 points from guard Jewell Loyd, the Seattle Storm lost 83-78 to the Dallas Wings on Thursday at KeyArena in its final contest of a four-game homestand. Seattle drops to 6-10 on the season, while the Wings improve to 8-9 with their second victory of the year over the Storm.
Thursday’s game was tightly contested from start to finish, and neither team led by more than three points in the second half until the final seconds. A pair of free throws by Crystal Langhorne gave Seattle a two-point lead with 1:16 remaining, but Dallas rookie Aerial Powers responded by nailing a three-pointer to put the Wings back in front. The Storm was unable to score on its remaining possessions, and the Wings knocked down their free throws to secure the victory.
Powers led the Wings with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting off the bench, one point shy of her season high. Loyd, who ranks ninth in the league with 17.1 points per game, recorded her seventh 20-point game of the season. The reigning Rookie of the Year shot an efficient 8-of-16 from the field and 7-for-7 at the free throw line.
After tying the league’s single-game high with 38 points in the last game, Storm forward Breanna Stewart had 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists Thursday night. Langhorne and Alysha Clark scored 10 points apiece.
In a battle of the two teams who attempt the most three-pointers, Dallas shot 11-of-22 from beyond the arc compared to 7-of-20 for the Storm.
Clark hit a pair of three-pointers in the first quarter, helping the Storm go on a 13-1 run after facing an early deficit. Loyd led all scorers with nine points in the opening frame, helping Seattle to a 23-21 edge. The Wings had an 8-0 spurt to start the second quarter led by Powers, and they would hold onto the lead for most of the period. Stewart scored a pair of baskets to put Seattle in front 46-44 at halftime, as she and Loyd both finished the half with 11 points.
Loyd continued to impose her will to start the second half, scoring eight points in the first five minutes and pouring in 13 total points in the third quarter. It was a tightly contested period, as the score was tied on five different occasions, and the Storm led 65-64 heading into the fourth.
In the second half, both Noelle Quinn and Krystal Thomas scored off the bench for the Storm. Quinn and Thomas are back with the Storm after being acquired over the weekend.
Following Thursday’s defeat, Seattle will begin a three-game road trip in Atlanta on Tuesday, one week after defeating the Dream at KeyArena.