Smith’s Three-Point Barrage Leads Lynx

Katie Smith scored 32 points and tied WNBA records with five three-point baskets in a half and seven overall in Minnesota’s 77-72 victory over Seattle on Saturday night before 6,486 fans at Seattle.

The Lynx (4-4) broke a three-game losing streak and stopped the Storm’s winning streak at three.

Smith made successive three-pointers to start a 15-2 run midway through the first half. Seattle didn’t adjust its defense and Smith continued to make open shots. She finished the half with 19 points on seven-for-10 shooting, five for five from three-point range.

Seattle didn’t do much better in stopping Smith’s teammates. Minnesota shot 62.5% from the field and 70% from three-point range, taking a 48-35 lead at halftime.

Seattle (3-4) fought back behind the play of Lauren Jackson, who scored 14 of her 18 points in the second half. Seattle cut the lead to two with two minutes to play, but Smith responded by making three of four free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

Smith finished 11 for 20 from the field and seven for 10 from three-point range. She was the sixth WNBA player to make seven three-point baskets in a game. The most recent was Portland’s Sophia Witherspoon on June 29, 2001.

Tamika Williams scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Minnesota. Sheri Sam scored 11 points.

Sue Bird had 16 points for Seattle and Kamila Vodichkova added 12.

Indiana 79, Sacramento 67 -- Natalie Williams scored a season-high 24 points and had 11 rebounds in the Fever’s win before 6,982 fans at Sacramento. Stephanie White scored 16 points and rookie Coretta Brown scored all 12 of her points in the second half to help the Fever (3-3) end a three-game road losing streak.

Tangela Smith led Sacramento (3-6) with 17 points, and Ticha Penicheiro added a season-high 16 points and 10 assists.

Phoenix 76, Houston 61 -- Tamicha Jackson had a season-high 18 points and a career-high eight assists to help the Mercury win at Phoenix before 7,260 fans and end a five-game losing streak.

Houston (4-5) has lost five of its last seven.

Phoenix (2-7), which shot 35% from the field in its first eight games, made seven of its first 10 shots, including three of four from three-point range, to take a 17-5 lead.

Houston played without Sheryl Swoopes, who sprained her right ankle June 7 against Connecticut.

Cleveland 84, Connecticut 56 -- Penny Taylor and Deanna Jackson each scored 18 points to lead the Rockers at Cleveland before 5,471 fans. The Rockers (4-2), who began the game second in the WNBA in scoring defense, held two of the league’s top five scorers to a total of 18 points on six-for-21 shooting.

Shannon Johnson, who came in as the league’s top scorer at 20 points a game, had seven points on two-for-seven shooting for the Sun (4-3). Nykesha Sales, fifth in the league with an 18.7 average, scored 11 points on four-for-14 shooting. Connecticut shot 30% from the field.

Detroit 93, Washington 56 -- Swin Cash scored nine of her 19 points during a 25-3 second-half run as the Shock won in a rout in front of 16,589 at Washington.

The 37-point loss was the third-most lopsided loss in Washington’s franchise history and the fourth most points allowed in franchise history. The Mystics missed 18 consecutive shots in a 10-minute stretch in the second half.

San Antonio 62, Charlotte 52 -- Marie Ferdinand scored 15 points to help the Silver Stars (3-6) win before 8,811 fans at San Antonio and end a two-game losing streak.