Great Barrier Reef does it for Seattle

Sacramento at Seattle: Great Barrier Reef does it for Seattle
LJ :: 31 points (10-18 FG), 13 rebs (3 off), 1 assist, 3-6 3PT, 8-8 FT, 3 blocks
Batgirl :: 14 points (5-8 FG), 3 rebs

Fran Zara :: 7 points (2-2 FG), 3 assists
Birdy :: 8 assists, miserable shooting night though
Izzy :: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists

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Betty's so off her game. Birdy's gotta play with that blasted mask, she just have to forget about it, coz she's gotta play with it the whole season.

They gotta make things happen. Good thing Zara was playing alright.

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Seattle 74, Sacramento 67

SEATTLE (AP) -- Lauren Jackson scored a season-high 31 points, and the Seattle Storm built a 20-point lead before holding on for a 74-67 win over the Sacramento Monarchs on Sunday night.

Seattle broke a four-game losing streak, its longest skid since dropping five straight in August of 2003.

Seattle Storm's Lauren Jackson shoots
over Sacramento Monarchs' Rebekkah
Brunson during the first half of their
WNBA game in Seattle Sunday,
July 3, 2005.
(AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle (8-8) led 48-30 at halftime, but Sacramento's defense tightened in the second half, and cut Seattle's lead to 63-61 with 3:42 left after two free throws from Ticha Penicheiro.

Jackson scored, and fellow Australian Suzy Batkovic made two jumpers, the second with 1:51 left to put Seattle up 69-64.

Sacramento's Kristin Haynie made two free throws before Jackson's 13-footer with 1:17 left to put Seattle up 71-66. DeMya Walker added a free throw for the Monarchs, but Haynie missed a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left that could have pulled Sacramento within one.

Jackson had not scored more than 17 points in her last three games, and scored just six in consecutive losses to Minnesota and Houston.

Against Sacramento, Jackson made 6-of-9 shots and both of her 3-point attempts in the first half. She finished 10-for-18 shooting and had 13 rebounds.

Jackson's big night made up for off game from Sue Bird and Betty Lennox. The backcourt duo combined for just five points. Reserve Batkovic added 14 points.

Walker led Sacramento (11-5) with 14 points, Penicheiro had 12 and Yolanda Griffith added nine.

Seattle improved to 5-2 at home after losing all four on its recent road trip. After playing nine of its last 12 on the road, Seattle plays seven of nine games in July at home.

Sacramento had a brief two-game winning streak snapped, and finished its five-game road trip 3-2. The Monarchs played six games in 10 days, but now get some time off and do not play again until July 14.

Seattle shot more than 60 percent for most of the first half, and made 10 of its first 14 shots. Meanwhile, Sacramento missed 13 of its first 15 attempts and fell behind by 20.

Seattle's 48 first-half points were a season high.

Sacramento's Kara Lawson dressed, but did not play after spraining her left ankle Friday against Detroit.