Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO — Becky Hammon scored 17 points, including an uncontested layup with 1:12 left, and the San Antonio Silver Stars rallied from a 12-point deficit to beat the Seattle Storm 74-69 on Friday night.
Hammon’s basket, set up when Sophia Young stole Seattle’s Sue Bird pass near the basket, put the Silver Stars (5-4) ahead 69-65.
Lauren Jackson then scored on a baseline drive and made a free throw to cut San Antonio’s lead to 69-68 with 48 seconds remaining.
Jackson was whistled for fouling Young with 25 seconds to go and 2 seconds left on the shot clock. Young made both free throws to put San Antonio ahead 71-68.
“I don’t think it was a foul. Whatever,” Jackson said. “They’re going to call some. I was just doing my thing, playing, trying not to foul.”
Bird, who led Seattle (7-4) with 21 points, made a free throw to make it a two-point game. She fouled Vickie Johnson to stop the clock, but Johnson made both free throws to give the Silver Stars a 73-69 edge.
“We had it right there and just let it go,” Jackson said. “But (San Antonio) is so crafty with the ball, especially Becky. She hit some big shots.”
Bird’s 17 first-half points — on 6-of-9 shooting including three 3-pointers — gave the Storm a 12-point lead early in the third quarter.
“Sue Bird was nearly unstoppable in the first half,” Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said. “They really delivered a blow to us. Tonight is a quality win, and we were very fortunate to make that last run.”
The Silver Stars, who shot 35 percent in the first half, made their last five shots of the third quarter — including 3-pointers from Hammon and Helen Darling — and went into the fourth trailing 56-53.
San Antonio tied it 56-56 just 1:10 into the final quarter on Young’s shot from the top of the key.
Johnson had 16 points, and Young added 15.
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