Newz Forum: BASKETBALL: Lennox heats up as Storm push Finals to Game 3

SEATTLE -- Betty Lennox scored a season-high 27 points and the Seattle Storm held off the Connecticut Sun 67-65 Sunday night to force a decisive third game in the WNBA Finals.

Game 3 is Tuesday night in Seattle.

Lennox shot 11-for-16 and the Storm withstood a late charge by Connecticut in the last two minutes.

Nykesha Sales scored five points in the final 90 seconds as the Sun closed to 67-65. Lennox missed with 14 seconds left, and Seattle's Sheri Sam got the rebound and was tied up by Sales.

Seattle's Lauren Jackson corralled the ensuing jump ball, but Katie Douglas came up with a steal and called timeout with 3.1 seconds left.

On Connecticut's final chance, Sales had an open look on a 3-pointer from the corner, but hit the side of the backboard as time expired.

Sales almost single-handedly won the game for the Sun, scoring a career-high 32 points on 14-for-22 shooting. She scored 21 points in the second half.

Jackson added 15 points and 11 rebounds for Seattle, which shot 24-for-62.

Katie Douglas added 14 for Connecticut, which won the series opener 68-64.

The Game drew an announced crowd of 17,072 to KeyArena, despite the Seattle Seahawks playing the St. Louis Rams across town.

The Storm led by five at halftime and tried to take control early in the second half.

With just under 19 minutes left, Connecticut's Wendy Palmer strained her right shoulder trying to tie up Seattle's Kamila Vodichkova.

Palmer did not return, and without her presence in the paint, Jackson scored back-to-back baskets to key an 11-4 run, giving Seattle a 50-39 lead.

Palmer had 16 points and seven rebounds in Game 1.

Sales scored 10 points in less than two minutes to tie the game at 57-all.

Lennox made two baskets and Vodichkova added another to give Seattle a 63-57 lead with less than four minutes left.

Seattle fed off the huge crowd and was on the verge of turning the game into a blowout early, scoring 11 of the first 13 points and taking a 22-10 lead after just nine minutes.

Seattle's offense then began to struggle, and the Storm hit just four of their next 20 shots. Connecticut got back into the game with a 9-0 run as Seattle went more than four minutes without scoring.

The Sun got as close as 31-28 before halftime.