By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Storm’s winning streak snapped in an 83-64 loss to the Lynx.

The Seattle Storm’s six-game winning streak came to an abrupt end at the hands of a  more aggressive and physical  Minnesota Lynx. The 83-64 loss was the Storm’s third straight loss to the Lynx this season. The loss was not from a lack of effort.  It was a lesson learned in adjusting to a physical team that was getting the majority of the marginal calls. It’s not that the officials had it out for the Storm. The team did not adjust their play to how the game was being called.

GOOD START

A slumbering start saw the Storm trailing after the first quarter.   A one-point deficit at 20-21 could have been worse given the Storm made just 8 of 21 shots from the field. As has been the case all season tenacious defense kept the Storm within striking distance. Minnesota had 13 turnovers in the first quarter.  A 19-2 run midway through the second quarter saw the Storm bolt to a 10-point lead.

 A pair of free throws by Ezi Magbegor initiated the run which ended with a Jewell Loyd jumper with 1:20 left in the half.  A determined Lynx team scored the last five points of the half cutting the Storm lead at the break to 41-36.

CHANGE OF TACTICS


The Lynx’s determination turned into pure aggression as the home side pushed, bumped, and denied the Storm penetration inside the paint. The physical play by the Lynx discombobulated the Storm offense which was forced to shoot from the perimeter. The Storm made just 5  of 16 shots, was 0-4 from the three-point line, and shot just two free throws in the quarter.  Storm head coach Noelle Quinn picked up a rare technical foul while lobbying for her team.

“ We were movings and things like that but to be honest with you it is hard when you’re going through a lot of contact  I mean it’s tough, Loyd said after the game. “ That what  stops the rhythm it’s  the contact, for us we know we will get better and get more physical if we have to, it’s basketball and you see this in the playoffs.”

 Lynx guard Kayla McBride made three of four three-pointers to lead the Lynx with 12  points in the quarter. McBride finished with a game-high 32 points. A  10-3 scoring run to finish the quarter put the Lynx ahead for good.

BIG TAKE

Both teams made early adjustments, but it was the Lynx switching to a more aggressive hit-and-bump tactic that was not dirty but was intended to knock the Storm players from running their offense. Credit the Storm for not backing down to the league’s best team in one of the most hostile environments in the WNBA. Like her coach, Magbegor picked up a rare technical foul for backing up teammate  Nneka Ogwumike when she stepped in front of the Lynx’s Napheesa  Collier who was jawing with Ogwumike. The Storm continues to grow and learn as a team and unlike last year the team is tangling with the best in the league taking some shots and dishing some out.

POSTGAME NOTES

STORM HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Jewell Loyd led the Storm with 25 points, her second-straight game scoring 25. It was also her 60th career game with 25+ points, the seventh most in WNBA history.
  • Nneka Ogwumike contributed 14 points, six rebounds and three assists.
  • Ezi Magbegor recorded her7th consecutive game with 3+ blocks, tying Margo Dydek for the second-longest such streak in WNBA history. The only one with more is Lisa Leslie with 10. Her current streak of 12 straight games with 2+ blocks ties Lauren Jackson’s team record and is 10th-longest in league history.
  • Jordan Horston contributed across the stats sheet, added nine points, three rebounds, two steals, and notched her 5th game this season with 2+ blocks.
  • Victoria Vivians pulled down her 500th career rebound, finishing the night with five.
  • The Storm matched its season-high nine blocked shots (vs IND, 5/22).
LYNX HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Kayla McBride led the way for Minnesota with 32 (9-13 shooting). Napheesa Collier added a double-double, finishing with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
  • Alanna Smith and Olivia Epoupa each had seven assists for the Lynx. Minnesota had 25 assists on 27 baskets.

NEXT GAME:

  • The Storm head back to Seattle for its final home Commissioner’s Cup matchup, facing the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday, June 11. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Game action will be available on FOX 13+ and Prime Video in Washington state.

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