Seattle rallies from 28 down to pull with three late, but can’t complete comeback
SEATTLE – For the second time this week, the Seattle Storm made a monster comeback.
But this one just ran out of time.
Down by 28 points in the second quarter and by 21 heading into the fourth, the Storm (1-6) went on a 17-0 run through the first 6 minutes, 20 seconds of the fourth, ultimately getting as close as three points before the Washington Mystics hung on for a 71-65 victory on Sunday afternoon in Climate Pledge Arena.
Jewell Loyd, who missed Friday’s game against the Mystics with a minor foot injury, returned to lead the Storm with 16 points and five assists.
Rookie forward Jordan Horston got the first start of her career, finishing with 10 points, five rebounds, and two blocked shots. It was her third straight game in double-digit scoring.
Ezi Magbegor, along with her 13 points and seven rebounds, had four blocked shots. That was her fifth-straight game with three or more blocks, the first Seattle player ever to do that. Lauren Jackson had four games of three-plus blocks on five occasions.
The teams traded 7-0 scoring runs in the first quarter, the second of which left the Mystics (5-3) with a 12-10 lead.
That’s when Washington put together a 20-0 scoring run over the next 7 minutes, 44 seconds to extend its lead to 32-10, hitting 7 of 13 from the field, while forcing the Storm (1-6) into 0-for-14 shooting. Kia Nurse ended the drought with a jumper from the foul line with 7:00 left in the first half.
The Mystics stretched the lead all the way out to 28 points at 42-14, and took a 25-point advantage, 46-21, into halftime.
It was still a 21-point difference at 63-42 going into the fourth quarter. The Storm kept chipping away at it with 17 consecutive points while forcing Washington into seven straight misses. A lay-up by Loyd with 5:45 left brought Seattle within 63-55 and 5:45 still on the clock. That was the first time late in the opening quarter that it was within single digits.
A flagrant foul on a 3-point try by Ivana Dojkic sent her to the line with 2:48 left, and she drained all three, bringing Seattle within one possession at 68-65. Dojkic finished with a career-high 12 points, her first game in double digits.
But that was the final point for Seattle, and the Mystics closed it out at the free throw line.
UP NEXT
The Storm starts a three-game road trip on Tuesday against Phoenix, tipping off at 7:00 p.m.