Breanna Stewart scores game-high 29 including game-winner; Prince adds season-high 15 including 12 in pivotal fourth quarter
MINNEAPOLIS – Breanna Stewart hit a tough layup with :42.9 seconds left off a great assist from Jewell Loyd to lead the Seattle Storm to an 81-79 victory against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night in Minnesota.
The Storm picked up its fourth-straight win and third-consecutive victory on the road to improve to 9-5 on the season. The loss dropped the Lynx to 3-12 this year.
Seattle trailed for the bulk of the first half, falling behind by as many as 11 late in the second quarter, before rallying in the second half. An 8-0 run midway through the third quarter—started by a three-pointer from Loyd and capped by a three-point play from Stewart—gave Seattle its first lead in a while at 51-50 at the 5:37 mark. The game would feature seven ties and seven lead changes the rest of the way.
The Storm was down a few times in the fourth quarter, but Epiphanny Prince caught fire from beyond the arc, connecting on four three-pointers over a 3:30 span to help keep the team in the game. Thanks to the barrage of three-pointers, Seattle built the lead to four and extended it to five on a free throw by Stewart with 2:31 left.
Minnesota would make one final charge, hitting a pair of free throws followed by a three-pointer by Aerial Powers to tie the game with 52 seconds left.
Out of a timeout, the Storm went quickly with Loyd driving to the hoop and drawing a triple-team before handing it back to Stewart. The forward then floated a tough layup over the outstretched arms of a pair of defenders to put Seattle back on top with :42.6 seconds to play.
After a great defensive stop on the other end, the Storm had the ball back with :23.9 second left. Seattle milked the clock with Loyd attempting a driving layup with just seven seconds left, the shot rattled off but Stewart tipped out the rebound to Gabby Williams, who held on until the buzzer sounded.
The offensive board to seal the game was one of a season-high 15 for the Storm, which out-rebounded Minnesota 35-33 overall.
Seattle was shorthanded again in the game, playing without Sue Bird, who was out sick with a non-covid illness, and Mercedes Russell with a non-basketball injury. Despite missing Bird—the WNBA’s all-time assists leader—Seattle dished out 24 assists on 28 made baskets. Williams led the team with eight assists, and also matched a career-high with 10 rebounds.
Loyd added 14 points, with eight in the third quarter to help dig Seattle out of its first-half hole. Prince finished with a season-high 15 points thanks to her five three-pointers, narrowly missing her career-high of six.
Seattle will head to Connecticut to face the Eastern Conference-leading Sun on Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT). The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network, Fox 13 and Amazon Prime (Wash. residents only).