Threatt Helps Storm Surprise Lynx, 67-60

Robin Threatt scored a season-high 24 points Wednesday night as the Seattle Storm ended a nine-game losing streak by beating the Minnesota Lynx, 67-60, before 6,264 at Minneapolis.

The expansion Storm (3-13) held the Lynx to 39.3% shooting and their second-lowest point total of the season.

Threatt scored six in a 12-0 run early in the second half that put Seattle in control.

The Lynx (10-6), which had won four of five and was unbeaten against expansion teams, trailed by as many as 17 points. Minnesota’s Katie Smith, the WNBA’s scoring leader, averaging 22.5 points, was held to five points.

New York 62, Portland 45--Vickie Johnson and Becky Hammon scored 15 points apiece as the Liberty romped in front of 12,693 at New York.

Tari Phillips added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Liberty (8-9), which ended a two-game losing streak. Sophia Witherspoon led the expansion Fire (4-11) with nine points and Sylvia Crawley added eight. New York had a season-high 14 steals, five by Phillips.

After Portland closed to within 35-33 in the second half, the Liberty started a 13-0 run to take control. A layup by Phillips, two layups by Hammon and a baseline jumper by Johnson extended New York’s lead to 43-33.

Robinson’s three-point basket capped the 13-0 run for a 48-33 lead with 7:20 to play.

Charlotte 76, Miami 70--Rhonda Mapp scored 20 points--including the 1,000th point of her career--as the Sting gained its first home victory of the season by defeating the expansion Sol in front of 3,912 at Charlotte, N.C.

Charlotte (3-13) ended a WNBA-record nine-game home losing streak and a five-game overall skid. The Sting has lost 18 of its last 21 regular-season games. Mapp, who had nine rebounds, made two free throws with 22 seconds to play to help seal the victory.

Sheri Sam scored a career-high 26 points for Miami (5-11).