Sports > Monarchs Sweep Sparks Out of WNBA Playoffs

Sacramento Monarchs Sweep Los Angeles Sparks Out of the WNBA Playoffs With 81-63 Victory

Sacramento Monarchs center Yolanda Griffith, left, gets a hug from Erin Buescher, right, after the Monarchs defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 81-63 to sweep the first-round playoff series 2-0, in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, Sept. 2, 2005. (AP Photo/Rich Ped

The Monarchs pulled away in the second half to win the Western Conference series in two games. It was the second straight first-round exit for the Sparks, who also lost to Sacramento in 2004.

The Monarchs will play the winner of the Seattle-Houston series. Game 3 of that matchup is Saturday night in Seattle.

Rebekkah Brunson had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Monarchs, who defeated Los Angeles 75-72 in Game 1. Kara Lawson added 11 points and Hamchetou Maiga 10.

Tamika Whitmore had 15 points and Nikki Teasley 14 for Los Angeles, which committed 18 turnovers. Making only her second career start, Raffaella Masciadri connected on three 3s and had a career-high 13 points.

Sparks leading scorer Chamique Holdsclaw and perennial All-Star Lisa Leslie never got going offensively. Holdsclaw shot 3-of-12 and had seven points. Bothered by foul problems, Leslie was 1-for-5 with six points and eight rebounds.

This will be Sacramento's fourth appearance in the Western Conference finals. The Monarchs, who lost last year to eventual league champion Seattle in the conference finals, never have advanced to the WNBA Finals.

A year ago, the Monarchs upset the conference champions by winning the pivotal third game in Los Angeles.

With Los Angeles coming out strong in the second half and cutting the lead to two points, it was the Monarchs regaining control, running off 16 straight points for a 72-54 lead with 5:47 remaining.

Two of those points came when Los Angeles coach Joe Bryant and Teasley vehemently argued a call and were whistled for technicals. Lawson made them pay, making both free throws to the dismay of Bryant, who took off his suit jacket for much of a physical second half.

Trailing by 14 points, the Sparks opened the second half showing some offense for the first time all game. They had a 14-3 surge, highlighted by Masciadri's rare four-point play.

Getting production inside from Brunson and also on the perimeter from an unlikely source in Chelsea Newton, the Monarchs held a 43-29 halftime lead. The athletic Brunson scored nine points and Newton had eight for Sacramento, which used a 9-0 run to take control of the game.

2005-09-03