Top > Sport > 2004 > September > 2004-09-25

STORM/WNBA

Tully Bevilaqua came to training camp last spring very much on the bubble, with the only job guarantee being no guarantee.

Not only did the feisty Australian make the Seattle Storm roster as the reserve point guard for the second straight year, she became an integral part of the team that is on its way to the WNBA playoffs for the second time in franchise history.

``I knew I had to fight for my spot, but I was able to hold my own,`` said Bevilaqua, one of five Storm players (and one of just two reserves) to play all 34 regular-season games. ``I had a lot of questions of how I was going to take to coming off the bench and playing limited minutes.``

Often the first or second player to get Coach Anne Donovan`s call -- she usually takes over when All-Star and Olympian guard Sue Bird needs a breather -- Bevilaqua bows into the postseason picture this morning when the Storm open their best-of-3 Western Conference semifinal at Minnesota.

Though her playing time is indeed limited -- she averaged 10.5 minutes in each 40-minute game -- she has seen double-digit minutes in 10 of the past 12 outings. And by season`s end, she had played 106 more minutes than last year when she was further down the bench.

``I`m just happy to be in this league,`` said the 32-year-old Bevilaqua, whose first two WNBA teams -- the Cleveland Rockers and Portland Fire -- have gone defunct. ``And this is the first time for me (in the playoffs), so it`s special.``

Full-throttle

When Bevilaqua does get minutes, they`re never dull ones. At one moment, she is shades of Michelle Marciniak, the former Storm star known for diving onto the floor or over the scorer`s table after loose balls. If there`s havoc to be created, Bevilaqua will create it.

At another moment, she can be a reminder of the Connecticut Sun`s Debbie Black, who is best known for being an in-your-face defensive pest. Need a timely steal? Tell Tully. Her 38 swipes ranked third on the team and easily led the way among the bench bunch.

``Tully will energize the team and try to change the outcome of the game,`` said Bird, who has no qualms yielding the driver`s seat Bevilaqua two or three times a night. ``There`s no replacing that, even if she`s not scoring. And the way she plays defense -- I don`t know how she does it. I would love to be able to play defense the way Tully does.``

Donovan, in an article on the Storm that appears in the October issue of Sports Illustrated for Kids, was even more succinct in describing Bevilaqua, saying, ``She`s our pit bull.``

Taking a timeout

Bevilaqua figures her best move might have been putting the ball down for a while after last season.

``That`s the first time I had done that in quite a few years,`` Bevilaqua said. ``That was key to coming back fresh (for Storm training camp).

``I kind of had a second coming,`` she continued, flashing a grin. ``It was a new me.``

Though she has a few more years on the court than the 23-year-old Bird, Bevilaqua tries to be both a student and a teacher when in her presence.

``She`s just a phenomenal player,`` Bevilaqua said. ``She`s still teaching me a few tricks.``

The one trick Bevilaqua taught herself was simply to enjoy the ride, whether it was making the cut or making the playoffs.

``It`s awesome to help the team,`` she said. ``There are no issues or court time issues or anything like that with me.

``I love what I do here.``

Mark Moschetti can be contacted at mark.moschetti@kcjn.com or at 253-872-6733.

STORM AT MINNESOTA

What -- Game 1 of the best-of-3 WNBA Western Conference semifinals.

When -- Today, 11 a.m.

Where -- Target Center, Minneapolis.

On the air -- The game will be shown live on NBATV (on satellite). It will be broadcast live on KJR 95.7 FM with David Locke on play-by-play. (This is a change from normal, because KJR AM will be carrying the Washington-Notre Dame football game.)

Team records -- The Storm finished the regular season 20-14, fourth in the Western Conference, 5 games behind Los Angeles. The Lynx finished at 18-16, third in the West, 7 games behind Los Angeles.

Series -- Lynx lead, 9-7, including 6-2 at Minnesota. The Storm won two of this year`s three games: 88-85 at Seattle in the season-opener on May 20, and 70-55 at Minnesota on July 30. The Lynx won the final regular-season meeting, 64-61 at Minneapolis on Sept. 10.

Storm`s last game --Seattle closed the regular season last Saturday with an 83-80 loss to L.A. in KeyArena. Down by as many as 12 points during the second half, the Storm climbed Down 25-12 midway through the first half, Seattle rallied, and had a chance to tie it at the buzzer, but Betty Lennox` trey rattled out. Sheri Sam scored aseason-high 21 points, with 15 of those during the first half.

Lynx` last game -- Minnesota dropped its season finale last Sunday at Sacramento, 72-63. The Lynx had a five-point lead with 14:10 remaining, but Sacramento went on a 20-7 scoring spree to take command.

Probable starters -- STORM G Sue Bird (12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.5 steals), G Betty Lennox (11.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.06 steals), F Lauren Jackson (20.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.0 blocks), F Sheri Sam (9.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.56 steals), C Kamila Vodichkova (8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists). LYNX: G Helen Darling (4.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists), G Teresa Edwards (5.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.38 steals), F Svetlana Abrosimova (6.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists), F Tamika Williams (7.5 points, 6.0 rebounds), C Nicole Ohlde (11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.32 blocks).

Stats and such -- The Storm went 7-10 on the road, tied for the fourth-best record in the league with three other teams. Minnesota was 11-6 at home, tied for the third-best record with two other teams. ... Lauren Jackson won the scoring title at 20.5 points. per game. Sue Bird was second in assists at 5.4. ... Minnesota`s Tamika Williams was the league`s top shooter, hitting 54 percent from the floor (102 of 189). Seattle`s Jackson ranked sixth at 47.8 percent (220 of 460). ... Jackson also ranked third in blocked shots at 2.0.

Next game -- Minnesota at Storm, Game 2, Monday, KeyArena, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2, KJR 950 AM).