09:36 PM PDT on Thursday, August 18, 2005

Associated Press

SEATTLE - Seattle's Anne Donovan became the first female coach in the WNBA to reach 100 wins, as Lauren Jackson had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Storm over the Minnesota Lynx 76-60 Thursday night.

AP

Seattle Storm's Francesca Zara, right, drives past Minnesota Lynx' Amanda Lassiter in the first half.

Iziane Castro Marques scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half and Sue Bird added nine assists for Seattle (17-13), which won its seventh straight at home.

Coupled with Houston's win over Phoenix earlier Thursday, the Storm remained one-half game ahead of the Comets for second place in the Western Conference. Seattle, which ended July with six straight wins, has won three of its last four.

Nicole Ohlde led Minnesota (14-17) with 17 points while Tamika Williams had 14 rebounds.

Donovan is the fourth coach - first woman - in league history to reach the 100-victory milestone. Last fall, she became the first female coach to win a WNBA championship.

"I'm so appreciative to Seattle for giving me an opportunity to come here and coach a great team," she said afterward. "I'm proud that I made the most of it. I'm looking forward to winning 100 more in Seattle."

Donovan trails Houston's Van Chancellor (191), former Los Angeles coach Michael Cooper (119) and Washington's Richie Adubato (114) on league's coaching wins list.

Donovan is 100-94 in six WNBA seasons - the last three in Seattle after two years with Charlotte and one season at Indiana.

This one may have been one of her easier wins. Seattle led 28-21 at halftime, using a 13-6 run through the first four minutes of the second half.

AP

Seattle Storm coach Anne Donovan, right, smiles as she is handed the game ball by team official Karen Bryant following the Storm's victory over the Minnesota Lynx.

Bird found Jackson for a 3-pointer that put the Storm ahead 39-27 and Castro Marques hit two free throws for a 41-27 lead. From there, Seattle's lead remained in double digits.

The Storm improved to 12-3 at home. Seattle is 2-8 over its last 10 road games, a not-so-subtle reminder - if the Storm need it - of the importance of a home game in the playoffs.

Seattle's Betty Lennox missed her fifth straight game, sitting in street clothes on the bench with her left wrist in a brace to heal a partially torn tendon.

The Lynx lost starting center Vanessa Hayden just after tipoff.

Seattle's Tanisha Wright, chasing a loose ball, dived across the court and fell on with Hayden's right shoulder.

Hayden came back from the locker room midway through the first half, her arm in a sling and an ice pack on her shoulder. She didn't return to the game.