Seattle 79, Sacramento 64

SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 9 (AP) -- Lauren Jackson had 17 points and nine rebounds to lead the Seattle Storm to a 79-64 victory Tuesday night over the Sacramento Monarchs.

Sue Bird had 16 points and nine assists for Seattle, which passed idle Los Angeles for second place in the West, one game behind San Antonio. The Storm also snapped a six-game road losing streak with their second away win of the year.

"It was so important, we've been dying for a road win,'' Bird said. "And this is a notoriously tough place to play, we hadn't gotten a win here in a long time.''

Crystal Kelly scored 12 points for the Monarchs, who have lost three straight and five of seven to fall into last in the West. Sacramento's leading scorer, Nicole Powell, missed her first eight shots and finished with 11 points. Rebekkah Brunson also had 11 points.

Swin Cash had 14 points, Camille Little scored 12 and Tanisha Wright had 11 points and six assists for Seattle, which has stayed afloat due to a 10-1 home record

The Storm led by 14 points at the half and opened the third quarter by outscoring the Monarchs 17-3, pushing the margin to 28 points midway through the period in cruising to their fourth straight victory.

"We just didn't play well in any area of the game,'' said Sacramento coach Jenny Boucek, who held a 25-minute, closed-door meeting with her team after the game. "Seattle played tough defense and that has not been their trademark over the years.''

Yolanda Griffith returned to Sacramento, where she played nine years and led the Monarchs to a WNBA championship in 2005.

"The preseason game we played here prepared me for tonight,'' said Griffith, who finished with two points and four rebounds, three of them in the first quarter when Seattle took the lead for good. "Tonight it was just important for us to get a victory. I'm a professional, I was here nine years, but now I represent the Storm.''