Charles and Loyd Lead Storm Past Lynx, 96-69
Published on August 13, 2022 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Seattle Storm News Release
MINNEAPOLIS - Tina Charles scored a game-high 23 points and Jewell Loyd added 21 as Seattle cruised to a 96-69 win over Minnesota on Friday night at Target Center.
The Storm improves to 22-13 with the victory, securing the No. 4 overall seed in its upcoming WNBA Playoff matchup with the Washington Mystics. Seattle also secures a sweep of the season series with the Lynx (14-21), its fourth-ever season sweep and first in a non-Wubble season since 2008.
Charles and Loyd provided the bulk of the offense for Seattle, combining for 46 points on 17-of-30 shooting-including 6-of-10 from three-point range. Charles had 23 of those points to go along with nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Loyd tallied 21 points, connecting on 8-of-14 from the field.
Breanna Stewart joined the mix as well with 16 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. She also had two assists and a steal. Briann January came off the bench to tally 11 points, adding five assists to push her past Dawn Staley (15th) and into a tie with Teresa Weatherspoon for 14th on the WNBA's all-time assist list with 1,338 in her career.
Seattle jumped out to an early lead thanks to another big first quarter. After giving up an opening basket, to the Storm responded with a 15-2 run to go up 15-4 at the 4:32 mark. Minnesota hit a pair of free throws to make it a nine-point game again, but Seattle closed out the quarter by once again outscoring the Lynx 15-4 to take a 30-10 lead after one.
It was the third time this season Seattle has scored 30+ points in the first quarter with all of those coming during the team's first four games in August. The Storm also shot 57.1% from the field (12-21) and had more three-pointers (6) than Minnesota had field goals (4).
In the second, the Storm's shooting cooled off a bit to start with Seattle connecting on just 4-of-11 to start. Minnesota took advantage and outscored the Storm 14-6 over the first 5:20 to narrow the deficit to 36-24. But once again, Seattle outscored the Lynx down the stretch, as Stewart scored six of the Storm's seven-straight points over a four-minute stretch to give the visitors a 45-28 lead at the half.
Seattle blew the game wide open in the third period, connecting on 11-of-17 (64.7%) from the field including 4-of-5 from three-point range. Still up by 17 at the 6:06 mark, the Storm went on a 14-4 run capped by a three-pointer by Epiphanny Prince to put Seattle up 70-43 with 1:56 left. The Storm would go up by as many as 30 in the fourth quarter before settling for the 27-point victory-a point off its largest margin of victory ever against Minnesota.
The Storm closes out the 2022 regular-season on Sunday, traveling to Las Vegas to face the Aces at Noon on ABC.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 13, 2022
- Dallas Ends 2022 Regular Season in Los Angeles - Dallas Wings
- Connecticut Sun Injury Report - Connecticut Sun
- Charles and Loyd Lead Storm Past Lynx, 96-69 - Seattle Storm
- Emily Engstler Posts Career-High 18 Points in Final Home Game of Season - Indiana Fever
- Wings Fall to Mercury, 86 - 74 - Dallas Wings
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