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WNBA Seattle Storm

Storm Swarms Mercury, 83-60

September 12, 2020 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Seattle Storm News Release


BRADENTON, Fla. - Using a big second quarter and a dominant defense, the Seattle Storm (18-3) held one of the hottest shooting WNBA teams, the Phoenix Mercury (13-9) to just 24.2% shooting in a 83-60 win Friday.

The Storm featured six double-digit scorers in the dominant win, and held the Mercury to under 20% shooting for much of the game. Starting for Sue Bird, guard Jordin Canada led the way with 13 points and four assists.

"We just wanted to attack them offensively," Mercedes Russell, starting in place of Breanna Stewart, said. "Get as many paint points as we can, get to the free throw line, get our guards going down hill into the paint, and I think we did a pretty good job of that tonight."

The first quarter was a defensive struggle, with both teams struggling to shoot out of the gate, until a late run from the Storm had them ahead by eight after one frame. Guards Canada and Jewell Loyd led Seattle with 13 points combined, and the Storm's suffocating defense held the Mercury to less than 40% shooting and just 14 points.

The second quarter was nothing short of dominant from the Storm, outscoring the Mercury 28-12. By the half, the Storm were holding Phoenix to 19.4% shooting from the field with just six made shots. Seattle, on the other hand, was able to shoot over 50%, knock down its free throws, and dominate in the paint to build up a 50-26 lead at the break.

The second half was more of the same. The Storm held the Mercury to just two made shots in the third quarter and continued shooting over 50%, and in the fourth quarter, Seattle retained their large lead throughout.

"We were trying to take some of [Skylar Diggins-Smith's] touches away, and same with [Diana] Taurasi and I thought we did a really, really good job of that," head coach Gary Kloppenburg said. "We shot the ball pretty well, we shot 47% and 41% from three. Any time we shoot the ball in the mid 40s and we defend well, we're a pretty good ball club."

Along with Canada, Natasha Howard (12 points), Russell (10 points), Loyd (10 points), Ezi Magbegor (10 points), and Crystal Langhorne (10 points) scored in double figures.

SEATTLE HIGHLIGHTS

The Storm held Phoenix to a season-low 60 points. The Mercury's previous season-low was in their first meeting with the Storm, where Seattle held them to 68 points.

Mercedes Russell made her first start of the season in place of Breanna Stewart, who sat out with a left foot injury. Russell finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds, shooting 50.0%.

Jordin Canada led the charge for the Storm with 13 points. Six Storm players scored in double-digits - along with Canada, Natasha Howard added 12 and Russell, Jewell Loyd, Ezi Magbegor, and Crystal Langhorne all added 10.

The Storm got off to a hot start, leading 50-26 at halftime. Out of the half, Seattle kept Phoenix from scoring until 3:41 in the third quarter, stretching the lead to 38 points.

The Storm held Phoenix to shooting only 24.4% from the field. Of the eight Mercury players who took the court, only three made more than one shot.

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