By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Seattle Storm’s Eight-Game Losing Streak: A Deep Dive

The Seattle Storm’s losing skid is now at eight games after Friday’s heartbreaking 76-72 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. The Storm’s growing pains continue as the team learns how to win games. On Friday, the Storm flew out of teh game to start the game and scored 21 first-quarter points, connecting on all five of their three-point attempts.  In addition to the three-pointers, the Storm made 42% of their field goal attempts and made both of their free throw attempts. The quarter ended with both teams scoring 21 points.

Part of the Storm’s inability to win games is due to inconsistency on the offensive end from quarter to quarter.  A paltry 17 points followed the Storm’s 21 first-quarter points in the second quarter. The Storm made 5/15 shots from the field and were 3/7 from the three-point line. Katie Lou Samuelson led the Storm in scoring with 8 points, including 2 three-pointers and 2 free throws. What kept the Storm in the game were the 4/6 free throws made and tenacious defense. The homeside held the Valkyries to just 19 points in the quarter. The first half ended with the Storm trailing the Valkyrie’s 40-38. Natisha Heideman led the Storm with 13 points, and  Kaila Charles led the Valkyries with 13 points.

 POOR SHOOTING CONTINUES

The Storm’s poor shooting went from bad to worse in the third quarter. The Storm scored just 15 points in the quarter. Poor off-ball movement made the Storm offense pedestrian, with the ball settling at the top of the key. On the flip side, the  Valkyrie’s offense caught fire. The visitors made 9/15 shots from the field and were 3/8 from the three-point range. Golden State made 5 of 6 free throw attempts and finished the third quarter with a 53-66 lead.

STRUGGLING TO CLOE OUT GAMES

The positive end of the Storm’s ability to stick together and play hard-nosed defense has kept them in games. Such was the case in the fourth quarter against the Valkyries.  With their defense locked in, the  Storm stayed steadfast in a tough physical quarter.

“We don’t ever give up, regardless of the score,” Hiedeman said. “That’s a good thing about our team. We are full of competitors. We have a lot of fight, but just proud of us to be able to even put ourselves in a position to win that game.”

 A disjointed quarter that saw plenty of momentum-stopping whistles saw the Storm trail 71-70 with 50.3 seconds left after two Dominque Malonga free throws.  The Storm caused a turnover on the Valkyries’ next possession.  With the ball in hand and  26.6 left in the game, Storm head coach Sonia Raman called time and advanced the ball to midcourt.

  MISSED OPPORTUNITY

  A contested missed layup by Fla’jea Johnson gave the ball back to Valkyries, who extended the lead to 73-70 on two free throws by Tiffany Hayes. Jade Melsbournes driving layup cut the lead back to one point at 73-72 with 13.4 seconds left.   Back-to-back free throws by former Stom Gabby Williams extend the lead to three at 75-72 with 11.9 seconds remaining in the game. The Storm had an opportunity to tie the game on Heiderman’s three-point attempt, but it was not to be as Kia Stokes blocked the attempt,t and Tifany Charles free throw put the game out of reach.

KEY STATS OF THE GAME

  • Seattle forced 14 Golden State turnovers and converted them for 24 points, the highest points off turnovers for the Storm so far this season.
  • The Storm shot 5-for-5 three-pointers in the first quarter, the first time this season the team has tallied 100% shooting from beyond the arc in a quarter.
  • Seattle held Golden State to 21.6% shooting from deep, the team’s worst three-point shooting percentage in a game so far this season.

STORM HIGHLIGHTS

  • Natisha Hiedeman recorded a career-high 26 points, draining a season-high five three-pointers. She shot 47.1% from the field, including 50% from beyond the arc, and tallied four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
  • Dominique Malonga added nine points and tied her season high with eight rebounds.

VALKYRIES HIGHLIGHTS

  • Janelle Salaün tallied 22 points and Gabby Williams finished with 19.

UP NEXT: The Storm head south to face their I-5 rivals, the Portland Fire, on Wednesday, June 17. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. PT and will be broadcast locally on CW Seattle and available to stream on Prime for users in Washington state.

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