By Wyatt Yearout

The Seattle Storm improved to 2-0 on the season against Connecticut as they defeated the Sun 84-70 to win its second-straight game and boost its record to 12-5 on the season.

Seattle’s offense featured a balanced attack, with a season-high six players scoring in double figures in Natasha Howard (13), Breanna Stewart (11), Jewell Loyd (11), Sue Bird (11), Jordin Canada (11) and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (10).

The Storm held the sun to just 37.5 shooting from the field and outscored Connecticut in the paint 42-26.

DEFINING MOMENTS

Seattle started the game hot, opening on a 7-0 run prompting Connecticut to take out its starting lineup. The Sun was able to get going on the offensive end, but Seattle was able to keep its initial separation after one at 23-15.

Connecticut began to find a rhythm on the offensive end in the second period and managed to not only erase Seattle’s advantage, but take a lead of its own at 32-28. However, Seattle then answered with a 17-0 run and took a 47-35 lead into half. Loyd scored eight points in the second period for the Storm.

The Sun outscored the Storm 12-4 to open up the third, trimming the lead that was as much as 13 to just four points at 49-45. Seattle had the answer once again, going on a 15-2 to stretch the lead back to double digits. The Storm held the Sun to just three points the final 6:45 of the third period.

Connecticut was able to put a small dent in the lead in the final period, but could not put together any sort of comeback, as the Storm ultimately won by 14.

HUGHES’ TAKE

Head coach Dan Hughes thought the key in the victory was how his team attacked the paint on the offensive end.

“We were not necessarily looking for the easy way out, we were looking to go inside, and then back out, and it was tough minded.”

NOTES

• Bird cashed in nine assists to go along with 11 points. She has dished out nine or more assists in four straight games, accumulating a total of 39 dimes in those games.
• With 48.5 seconds left in the first quarter, Mosqueda-Lewis eclipsed the 500-point mark with a three-pointer.
• Canada came off the bench to tally 10 points, five assists and two steals. She has recorded five or more dimes four times this season.
• Crystal Langhorne scored a season-high seven points in 17 minutes off the bench.
• Seattle improved to 10-0 when leading after the first quarter.
• The Storm improved its league-leading assist-to-turnover ratio to 1.54 (23 assists, 10 turnovers vs. Connecticut tonight).

UP NEXT

Seattle hits the road for its next game against the New York Liberty on Tuesday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m./PT.