EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — Jewell Loyd tied a WNBA record with 22 points in the first quarter and finished with a career-high 37 to help the Seattle Storm secure a first-round bye in the WNBA playoffs with a 94-85 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night.

Storm 94, Mercury 85: Box Score

Seattle (21-11) will be the third or fourth seed, depending on how the Minnesota Lynx fare on Sunday, the last day of the regular season. The Mercury (19-12) will be the fifth-seed and host the still-to-be-determined No. 8 in a first-round game on Thursday.

Loyd’s 22 points came on 8-of-9 shooting, including all four of her 3-pointers, and she dished out three assists as the Storm took a 28-20 lead. She had 22 of Seattle’s first 24 and didn’t score for the final 4:21 of the opening quarter.

🐍 GOLD MAMBA MENTALITY 🐍@jewellloyd tied the WNBA record for most points in a quarter with 22!#TakeCover pic.twitter.com/pbdLovWhAw

— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) September 18, 2021

She tied the record Diana Taurasi, who sat out this game with an injury, set in 2006 for points in a quarter and tied by Brittney Sykes in 2019 for most points in a quarter. It is the most points by a WNBA player in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, highlighted by Brittney Griner’s 17th career dunk for the Mercury, Loyd was fouled on a desperation heave as time ran out and made three free throws, giving her 28 points and Seattle a 61-47 lead.

The 28 points in a half are the most by a WNBA player this season and the 61 points tied a Seattle record for points in a half.

Despite building the lead to 22 points, the Storm couldn’t put the Mercury away. A steal and breakaway layup by Shey Peddy was the end of a 20-4 run cut the deficit to 89-83 with 1:25 to go. The Mercury scored again after a Seattle shot clock violation before Loyd’s three-point play with 47.2 seconds to go decided the issue.

💥 JEWELL. 💥 LOYD. 💥@jewellloyd x #TakeCover pic.twitter.com/IXwlSMti7N

— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) September 18, 2021

Ezi Magbegor scored 15 points and Mercedes Russell 14 for the Storm, who played without leading scorer Breanna Stewart. Seattle shot 53.8% and had 27 assists of 35 baskets.

Griner had 26 points and 13 rebounds for her 16th double-double. Peddy added 17 for Phoenix.

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