Seattle rookie Dominique Malonga tied a career high with 22 points as the visiting Storm earned a much-needed win over the Dallas Wings on Friday night, winning 95-60.
With the win, Seattle (19-18) moved to a full game up on the Los Angeles Sparks for the final playoff spot. Dallas dropped to 9-28. It was the fewest points scored by the Wings this season.
Entering Friday’s game, the league was still buzzing about Wings superstar rookie Paige Bueckers, who had tied a WNBA record for a rookie with 44 points vs. the Sparks two nights earlier. The Storm made Bueckers earn each of her 11 points Friday, rotating defenders on her. Bueckers finished 2 of 7 from the floor, missed her first free throw after making 25 straight and only played 22 minutes.
Malonga, who didn’t start, used her elongated frame and unique athleticism to get easy baskets inside. She has now scored in double figures in seven of her last nine games. The center finished 10 of 12 from the floor with nine rebounds and three blocked shots. She also made a 3-pointer for just the third time this season.
Seattle’s bench outscored the Wings’ bench, 62-28. Erica Wheeler had 17 points off the bench for Seattle, including four threes. Maddy Siegrist led the Wings with 12.
Dallas started off strong, scoring the games’ first five points, but Seattle answered with an 11-0 run sparked by a traditional three-point play by Skylar Diggins and never trailed again.
Wheeler knocked down a three from the corner for Seattle with 3.3 seconds left in the first quarter to give Seattle its biggest lead up to that point at 28-16.
Dallas drew to 34-28 when Bueckers made three free throws after Malonga was called for a close-out foul midway through the second quarter, but then Malonga took over. She scored nine of her team’s last 14 points in the first half to give them a 48-34 lead at the half.
Seattle put the game away with a 7-2 run to start the second half, with all seven points by Gabby Williams. Dallas pulled its starters with over six minutes left in the game. Dallas shot just 29.9 percent from the floor, while Seattle shot 56.3.
Seattle is now 12-5 when they lead at halftime. They beat the Wings in three of four regular season meetings.
–Field Level Media
