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WNBA Finals: Seattle forces decisive game

WNBA Finals: Seattle forces decisive game

Storm slips past Sun in Game 2, 67-65
John Froschauer, Associated Press
Seattle Storm's Betty Lennox shoots over Connecticut Sun's Lindsay Whalen during the first half in Seattle yesterday in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals. Lennox led the scoring for the Storm with 27 in the 67-65 win.
Click photo for larger image.

SEATTLE -- Betty Lennox and the Seattle Storm withstood a record-setting performance by Connecticut's Nykesha Sales and forced a decisive third game in the WNBA Finals.

Sales scored a WNBA Finals record 32 points, but missed a 3-pointer as time expired, giving Seattle a 67-65 win in Game 2 last night.

Game 3 will be tomorrow night in Seattle.

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Sales and Lennox turned Game 2 into an individual showcase that came down to the final shot.

Sales set Finals records for most points, most field goals in a game (14) and most points in a half (21). She made seven consecutive shots before hitting the side of the backboard with no time remaining.

But it was Lennox coming out on top, scoring a season-high 27 points for Seattle.

"I was just trying to put more buckets on the scoreboard than she was," Lennox said. "My mentality wasn't to force it, just take what the defense gave me."

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Lennox hit 11 of 16 shots and took advantage of her matchup with rookie Lindsay Whalen. Seattle's other starters combined to shoot just 10 of 36.

"Two players that really weren't highlighted coming into the series just took over," Seattle coach Anne Donovan said. "One great play after another at both ends."

With Connecticut down 13 in the second half, Sales made sure the Sun would not fade away. She scored 15 points in the final 7:14 of the game as Connecticut rallied to tie the game at 57 with 5:20 left.

"The ball was just going in for me, so I just tried to create a little more," Sales said.

The Sun, which never led in the game, quickly fell behind, 63-57, after a 6-0 run by Seattle. Lennox made two baskets and Vodichkova added another to give Seattle a six-point lead with less than four minutes left.

Sales answered, scoring five points in the final 90 seconds to help pull the Sun within two at, 67-65. Lennox missed with 14 seconds left, Seattle's Sheri Sam got the rebound and was tied up by Sales.

Seattle's Lauren Jackson corralled the ensuing jump ball, but Katie Douglas came up with a steal and called timeout with 3.1 seconds left.

On the Sun's final chance, Sales had an open look on a 3-pointer from the corner, but hit the side of the backboard. Sales said she wasn't sure how much time was left and rushed the shot.

Jackson added 15 points and 11 rebounds for Seattle, which shot 24 for 62. Sue Bird had 10 points.

Katie Douglas scored 14 for Connecticut.

First Published: October 11, 2004, 4:00 a.m.

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