Lynx: Slow start, flat finish dooms hot team in Seattle

The Lynx were on a roll, until the team's second visit to Seattle.

Then they sputtered and broke down on Friday, losing 65-55 to the Storm. The loss ended their five-game winning streak and dropped to 5-2. They had beaten Seattle 81-74 on June 8, racing to a 22-0 lead.

This time, the Storm dominated. The Lynx had season lows in points (previously 74), FG% (.373), 3P% (.100), assists (12) and points in a quarter (8, was 11) and half (25, was 31).

"We lacked a lot of energy, I think they jumped out early," Lynx guard Seimone Augustus said. "It is the tale of two games – the last game, we jumped out early and got the lead, and the roles were switched. They jumped out early, had the fans behind them, and they played with a lot of energy and we never did quite get going."

The Storm led 21-8 after the first quarter. The Lynx never led and tied the game just twice, at 2-2 and 41-41.

Seattle pulled away by outscoring the lynx 18-10 in the fourth quarter.

"Lack of focus," said Augustus, who led the Lynx with 17 points. "I think they picked up the defensive intensity and we kind of struggled with that a little bit. We started to miss shots – I think we shot 25% tonight, very low percentage. And hats off to their defense because they really picked it up."

The Lynx shot 30.9 percent to Seattle's 41.2 percent.

Augustus was asked what the Lynx need to do. "Definitely coming out stronger," she said. "Playing with a lot of energy , a lot of intensity. On the defensive end, trying to take people away from what they want to do. I think Seattle scored a lot of points in the paint tonight, and that caused a lot of problems for us. Definitely taking care of the paint."

"Our defensive focus wasn't there, as a team," Lynx rookie Maya Moore said. "They outhustled us, out-willed us at the start of the first and fourth quarters – and that's what did it. We needed to, like Coach [Cheryl] Reeve said, we needed to play well and to get a win in this environment, and we didn't.

Moore said Indiana on Sunday at Target Center will be another good test for the Lynx. "They're going to be another team that comes out really tough defensively, very aggressive, so we're going to have to be more aggressive," Moore said. "As far as the defensive mindset we have to have, taking care of the basketball."

Reeve said her team's focus will be simple against the Fever: "Shooting better than 30%."

Even Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson, who came into the game with six consecutive double-doubles struggled. She had two points (1 of 5) and seven rebounds in 25 minutes, 26 seconds.

"They are a great rebounding team, and [Brunson] is the main reason for that," Storm forward Camille Little said. "A lot of times, it wasn't just the post players boxing her out - it was one of us and a guard or two guards. That's something we tried to really focus on and make sure she didn't get too many boards. I think we did a pretty good job."

The Lynx outrebounded the Storm 36-34 but it was close.