SEATTLE, July 13 (UPI) -- Ann Wauters scored 16 points to lead a balanced attack Friday night as the Cleveland Rockers held off the Seattle Storm, 62-58, to snap a six-game losing streak.
Chasity Melvin had 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, Penny Taylor scored 12 points and Merlakia Jones added 10 for the Rockers, who snapped the Storm's four-game home winning streak.
A 3-pointer by Taylor gave Cleveland the lead for good at 13-10 with 10:40 left in the first half. Melvin's layup pushed the advantage to 25-16 with 1:37 to go.
The Storm closed to 25-20 at halftime and 29-28 on Felicia Ragland's layup with 17:13 to play. Taylor answered with a 3-pointer and Wauters sank two free throws, rebuilding the lead to six points.
A layup by Wauters gave Cleveland its largest lead at 48-38 with 5:44 to play. Rookie Sue Bird's layup cut the deficit to 61-58 with 8.8 seconds remaining, but Jones made a free throw to seal the win.
The Rockers made 20-of-24 free throws compared to 8-of-8 for the Storm.
Lauren Jackson scored 22 points and Bird added 17 for Seattle, which lost at home for the first time since May 18.
