Nneka Ogwumike and Rae Burrell lead Sparks to win over Storm
SEATTLE — Nneka Ogwumike had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Rae Burrell scored 22 points, and the visiting Sparks beat the Seattle Storm 90-74 on Sunday in their final game before the FIBA World Cup break.
The Sparks scored the first 13 points in an opening 18-2 run and Dearica Hamby’s layup with 5:45 left in the first half capped an 11-0 spurt that gave them a 39-20 lead. Seattle shot 32% (12 of 38) from the field and two of 11 (18%) from behind the arc before going into halftime trailing by 19. The Storm were just as bad from three-point range in the second half, finishing four of 22.
Cameron Brink had 11 points on three-of-15 shooting for the Sparks (15-25).
Flau’jae Johnson scored 11 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter and Dominique Malonga had 17 points, on eight-of-21 shooting, and 15 rebounds for the Storm (8-32). Zia Cooke made six of 17 from the field for 14 points.
Seattle is 1-18 against Western Conference teams this season, its only win coming at the Sparks, 82-64, on July 6.
The Storm’s Jordan Horston fell awkwardly midway through the third quarter, limped to the locker room and did not return.
Awa Fam and Natisha Hiedeman did not play for the Storm.
Up next for the Sparks: at Dallas on Sept. 17.