Storm losing skid at four games after 93-73 drubbing by Sun

It was not the ideal way to start a four-game road trip for the Storm who found themselves on the short end of a 93-73 loss to the Connecticut Sun. Most surprising in the loss to the Sun was the defensive resistance.  In all fairness there was none. The Storm were on the  West Coast time zone while the well-rested Sun were champing at the bit to play after a week off.

ANOTHER DISASTROUS START

Couple a  hungry rested team that has had a week of practice with a team on a three-game losing streak and traveling cross country one has a recipe for potential disaster. What the Storm needed and wanted was a good solid start.

What they got was another lethargic start that set the tone for the game.  Two minutes into the game all looked well for the Storm when rookie  Jordan Horston back in the starting line-up tied the game at two all with a driving shot.

As they say, looks can be deceiving and Thursday night they were. Connecticut broke the game open with a 22-4 run in the first quarter to establish a 23-point lead (29-6)

“Today it was a team effort, we knew the defensive skeem and we executed, “Sun forward Tiffany Hayes said after the game. 

RELENTLESS ATTACK

The  Storm managed to triple their first quarter scoring in the second scoring 18 points. That was the good news. The bad news was that the  Storm were outscored 28-18 in the quarter. The result was an insurmountable 57-24 deficit at the half.  Four of the Sun’s starting five had already eclipsed the double figures in scoring.  Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner were tied with 13 points a piece.

Rebecca Allen 11pts and Tiffany Hayes 10  were the other two. Natisha  Hiedeman was the only starter not scoring double figures at the halftime break. She had five points. Jewell Loyd’s nine points led the Storm at the break

WON THE SECOND HALF BUT NOT THE GAME

After some halftime adjustments, the Storm were able to outscore the Sun 49-36 in the second half but in all reality, it was too little too late. The game was out of reach with the Sun emptying the bench to give the starters some well-deserved rest.

BIG TAKE

When teams are in a rebuilding mode accountability must be the bedrock of the rebuild. That accountability has to begin from the top and trickle down. Noelle Quinn is on record saying each player has to understand that this is a job and it’s their profession. Quinn has vowed to look and rotate the lineup until she finds the right combination. Loyd is also on record saying that the players have to do their part and must hold each other accountable. Sitting on a four-game losing streak and preparing to face the Liberty again on Saturday the team is at a make-it-or-break mode. That is less talk and more action from each and every one.

GAME NOTES

Team	1	2	3	4	FINAL	HIGH PTS	HIGH REB	HIGH AST
Seattle	6	18	28	73	73	J.Loyd ,22	S. Whitcomb, 9	K.Nurse, S. Whitcomb, 4
Connecticut	29	28	23	13	93	D.Bonner, A. Thoma 16	O.Nwlaon-Ododa,9	A. Thomas,7

GAME NOTES

STORM

• Jewell Loyd scored 22 points, her 11th 20+ points game in the season, tied for the most in the league. She connected on three treys, giving her a league-leading 56 for the season.

• Kia Nurse reached double-figures for the sixth time this season, scoring 11 points and adding three rebounds and three assists.

• Sami Whitcomb came off the bench to contribute and had a team-high nine rebounds, matching her career-high, while adding three points, three assists and one block.

• Ezi Magbegor finished with eight points and five rebounds as well as two blocks and one assist.
• Jordan Horston had six points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists in 20 minutes of play.

SUN HIGHLIGHTS

• Six sun players, including all five starters, finished in double-figures: Alyssa Thomas (16), DeWanna Bonner (16),

Tiffany Hayes (14), Rebecca Allen (14), and Natisha Hiedeman (14). Tyasha Harris added 11 off the bench.

• Although Thomas didn’t get her fourth triple-double of the season, she still had seven assists and five rebounds. She also blocked one shot.

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