Storm fans are getting an opportunity to ready themselves for the playoffs a bit early this year.
For the second time in three games, the crowd noise in KeyArena reached playoff decibels with their undefeated home team pulling out an 83-82 nailbiter against the Connecticut Sun.
After carving up the Storm defense with a combination of passing and scoring drives in the third quarter, Sun point guard Renee Montgomery had a bit of a mental lapse at the end of the fourth with a late foul on Storm guard Tanisha Wright, which led to a game-tying and game-winning free throws for the Storm.
"Yeah, playing aggressive always," said Montgomery of the foul after the game, which Thibault referred to as a bad foul. "Sometimes you just gotta know when to be aggressive and when to not."
More than anything, Sun coach Mike Thibault said that the final stretch of the game was a demonstration of the Storm’s confidence not just at home, but as a veteran team.
"I think (Seattle’s) confidence level in playing at home and playing together for so long is their biggest ally," said Thibault. "I just think they have more confidence right now because they’ve done it more times than we have. That’s the biggest thing – they understand. They’ve played together long enough to know that they can make plays. And they know who’s supposed to shoot it."
With the win the Storm move to 23-4 and 14-0 in KeyArena while the Sun continue to fight for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference at 13-14.