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Recap: Storm use big first quarter to defeat Wings 95-81

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In a game rife with hot shooting and career highs all around, Seattle defeated Dallas and ended its three-game losing streak.

By Christine M. Hopkins
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Dallas Wings v Seattle Storm
Jordin Canada notched her first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 12 assists on Friday night.
Photo by Joshua Huston/NBAE via Getty Images

Losing streak? What losing streak?

The Seattle Storm snapped their three-game skid with an all-out offensive effort, defeating the Dallas Wings 95-81 on Friday night. A loss would have put the defending champions on the playoff bubble at the halfway point of their season.

In her fifth start of the year, Sami Whitcomb converted three shots from beyond the arc in the first three minutes of the game. Her third, which along with Alysha Clark’s own three-pointer gave Seattle a 12-5 lead, led to an early Dallas timeout.

But if the Wings hoped to stop the bleeding right then, they were gravely disappointed: The Storm’s 33-point first quarter matched their highest total in a quarter all season.

Dallas hung in there, though — despite the final margin, Seattle needed all of that 33-13 opening quarter to stay in front. The Wings outscored the Storm 68-62 for the rest of the game, including a 28-17 fourth quarter. Both teams shot over 50 percent overall and over 60 percent from three.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis led the Storm with a season-high 18 points off the bench. Jordin Canada added 14 points and a career-high 12 assists, leading to her first career double-double. Natasha Howard also had 14 points, while Mercedes Russell had 13.

Whitcomb finished with 12 points for Seattle, adding yet another three-pointer in the third quarter, and joined Mosqueda-Lewis with four makes from beyond the arc each.

For the Wings, Arike Ogunbowale continued her stellar rookie season with a game-high 23 points. Glory Johnson scored 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, and Allisha Gray had 14 points. Kaela Davis added 11 points and 9 assists off the bench.

Like Whitcomb and Mosqueda-Lewis, Ogunbowale and Johnson also made four 3-pointers apiece. For all but Whitcomb, the mark either tied or set a career high.

Up next

The Storm close out a six-game homestand against the Liberty on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, League Pass). Earlier on the same day, the Wings are back home to take on the Sky (4 p.m. ET, League Pass).

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