Monarchs to celebrate ninth annual Breast Health Awareness Night

June 21, 2005 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


For the ninth consecutive year, the Sacramento Monarchs have adopted Breast Health Awareness as their primary community initiative and have designated the June 24th game versus the Connecticut Sun as "Breast Health Awareness Night." Up to $4.50 per-ticket will directly benefit the Sacramento Valley Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. In addition, pink ribbons will be distributed to the first 5,000 fans in attendance and important breast health information will be available to all fans. Former Monarchs guard and breast cancer survivor Edna Campbell will be in attendance. Breast health awareness t-shirts will be worn by the team and Hip Hop Crew and a reception for survivors will be held in the arena.

Outlook for the Week

Friday, June 24 vs. Connecticut Sun, 7:00 P.M. PDT at ARCO Arena

Sunday, June 26 at Washington Mystics, 12:00 P.M. PDT at MCI Center

Tuesday, June 28 at Connecticut Sun, 4:00 P.M. PDT at Mohegan Sun Arena

*All games can be heard on Sports 1140 KHTK with Jim Kozimor and Krista Blunk calling the action.

Did you Know? Best Start in Franchise History Sacramento is beginning the season with the best start in franchise history at 8-2. The 1999 season was the last time the team was off to a great start; the Monarchs were 7-3 ten games into the season. Sacramento currently sits atop the Western Conference, two games ahead of the second-place Seattle Storm. The only team with a better start is the 7-1 Connecticut Sun in the Eastern Conference.

2005 All-Star Balloting Underway The Monarchs have five players on the All-Star Ballot this year: guards Kara Lawson and Ticha Penicheiro; forwards Rebekkah Brunson and DeMya Walker; and center Yolanda Griffith.

Monarchs for Three (since 1999) Sacramento has made at least one 3-pointer in every game since the beginning of the 1999 season. That's 206 consecutive games that the Monarchs have netted a 3-pointer, at least once, from behind the arc.

Sacramento's Youth Movement With the Sacramento roster more than half full of new, young faces, the Monarchs now have an average age of 25.7 years old compared to their 28 years old average from last seasons roster.

Double Digits

- Yolanda Griffith has scored in double figures in 10 of 10 games and has been the high-scorer for the Monarchs five times.

- DeMya Walker has scored in double figures in 10 of 10 games and has been the high-scorer for the Monarchs twice.

- Nicole Powell has scored in double figures in 6 of 10 games and has been the high-scorer for the Monarchs four times.

Monarchs Approaching Milestones Yolanda Griffith - 3 points away from her 3,000th - 12 games away from her 200th Hamchétou Maїga - 11 games away from her 100th - 16 minutes away from her 1,000th

Seeing Double-Double Yolanda Griffith has posted 3 double-doubles in 2005. She now has 75 double-doubles in her WNBA career.

Griffith WNBA's All-Time Offensive Rebound Leader Yolanda Griffith is the WNBA's all-time offensive rebound leader. She currently has 758 career offensive rebounds.

Penicheiro WNBA's All-Time Assist Leader On June 17, 2004 at Minnesota, Ticha Penicheiro became the WNBA's all-time assist leader. She currently has 1,483 career assists.

Next Game: Friday, June 24 vs. Connecticut Sun, 7:00 P.M. PDT at ARCO Arena The Eastern Conference-leading Connecticut Sun will visit ARCO Arena to take on the Monarchs on Friday, June 24. In addition to being a matchup of the two best records in the WNBA, the game will also mark the Monarchs annual celebration of Breast Health Awareness. A reception for survivors will be held in the arena. Also, former Monarchs guard and breast cancer survivor Edna Campbell will be in attendance.

2005 vs. Sun June 24 Friday Sacramento vs. Connecticut, 7:00 p.m. PDT June 28 Tuesday Sacramento at Connecticut, 4:00 p.m. PDT

Regular Season Series Notes Largest Sacramento victory: 85-70, 7-9-04 @ Connecticut (15) Largest Connecticut victory: 73-64, 7-24-99 @ Sacramento (9) Most Points, Sacramento: 85-70, 7-9-04 @ Connecticut Fewest Points, Sacramento: 62-60, 7-21-02 @ Sacramento Most Points, Connecticut: 83-76, 6-12-04 @ Sacramento Fewest Points, Connecticut: 60-62, 7-21-02 @ Sacramento Longest winning streak, Sacramento: 4 games, 7-27-00 through 8-8-02 Longest winning streak, Connecticut: 2 games, twice, most recent 7-4-03 through 6-12-04 Monarchs last home win: 7-21-02, 62-60 Monarchs last road win: 7-9-04, 85-70 Current streak: Monarchs won 1, last loss 6-12-04 (83-76)

Quotables Connecticut Sun head coach Mike Thibault, July 9, 2004 Sacramento at Connecticut: "I know that Kara Lawson got a lot of open looks tonight. I thought we did a great job on Yo, but Lawson did a great job. It wasn't in the scouting report to leave her so open."

Connecticut Sun head coach Mike Thibault, June 12, 2004 Connecticut at Sacramento: "With a team like Sacramento you have to be aggressive on the boards."

Monarchs/Sun Connections Monarchs forward Yolanda Griffith and guard Ticha Penicheiro teamed up against Sun forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin and forward Nykesha Sales in the 2001 WNBA All-Star Game.

Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro and Sun forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin went head-to-head as starters in the 2000 WNBA All-Star Game for their respective conferences. Monarchs forward Yolanda Griffith and Sun forward Nykesha Sales were reserves for their conferences.

Upcoming Games: Sunday, June 26 at Washington Mystics, 12:00 P.M. PDT at MCI Center

The Monarchs will travel to Washington D.C. to take on the Mystics on Sunday, June 26, at 12:00 P.M. at the MCI Center. The game will be the first of a five-game road trip that will take the team into the All-Star break in July.

2005 vs. Mystics June 26 Sunday Sacramento at Washington, 12:00 p.m. PDT July 16 Saturday Sacramento vs. Washington, 7:00 p.m. PDT

Regular Season Series Notes Largest Sacramento victory: 78-56, 7-8-00 @ Sacramento (22) Largest Washington victory: 67-63 OT, 9-7-04 @ Washington (4) Most Points, Sacramento: 86-87, 6-25-02 @ Sacramento Fewest Points, Sacramento: 63-67 OT, 9-7-04 @ Washington Most Points, Washington: 87-86, 6-25-02 @ Sacramento Fewest Points, Washington: 54-70, 7-29-99 @ Sacramento

Longest winning streak, Sacramento: 6 games, 7-26-98 through 7-8-00

Longest winning streak, Washington: 2 games, 6-5-01 through 6-25-02 Monarchs last home win: 7-18-04, 81-71 Monarchs last road win: 6-18-03, 69-61 Current streak: Monarchs lost 1, last win 7-18-04 (81-71)

Quotables Mystics guard-forward Alana Beard, July 18, 2004 at ARCO Arena "I think the Monarchs did a great job pressuring us, picking the ball up early and taking us out of our offense, pushing us away from the goal, we were back on our heels the entire second half. I think anytime a team does that defensively, it's best to combat that with aggressive play but we didn't, we were back on our heels."

Sacramento Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro, September 7, 2004 at Washington: "Alana Beard is a big game player. I am a fan of hers and she was very aggressive all game. She ahs great instincts, which will make a key player in this league."

Monarchs/Mystics Connections

Yolanda Griffith played with Washington Mystics forward DeLisha Milton-Jones on the gold medal-winning 2000 U.S. National Team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

Tuesday, June 28 at Connecticut Sun, 4:00 P.M. PDT at Mohegan Sun Arena This will be the second meeting between the Monarchs and the Sun in five days and the final one during the 2005 regular season. Please see above for more information on the Sacramento/Connecticut matchup.

Recent Game Recaps: Vs. Minnesota 6/17/05 The Monarchs extended the best start in franchise history with a 67-50 victory over the visiting Minnesota Lynx. Sacramento dominated both ends of the floor throughout the game. They outrebounded Minnesota 20-9 and led by as many as 20 points in the first half. The second half was not much different as the Monarchs never dipped below a 10-point lead. The Lynx were held to just 34.6% (18-of-52) from the floor.

Three of the Monarchs starting-five scored in double figures. Nicole Powell led the team with 18 points and four rebounds. DeMya Walker contributed her 10th consecutive double-figure scoring game with 14 points and eight rebounds. Yolanda Griffith also contributed another double-figure game with 12 points, leaving her just three points shy of her 3,000th. Minnesota guard Katie Smith, the WNBA's leading scorer (20.3 ppg), was held to a season-low three points, one rebound, and two assists.

Sacramento (8-2) remains undefeated at home this season and retains control of the Western Conference. The Monarchs have a week off until they face the Eastern Conference-leading Connecticut Sun on Friday, June 24th at ARCO Arena. The game will also mark Sacramento's annual celebration of Breast Health Awareness day. A reception for survivors will be held in the arena. Also, former Monarchs guard and breast cancer survivor Edna Campbell will be in attendance.

Upcoming Practice Schedule The 2005 regular season continues this week, with media availability beginning at the following times: Tuesday June 21 10:00 A.M. PDT Practice Facility Wednesday June 22 1:00 P.M. PDT Practice Facility Thursday June 23 1:00 P.M. PDT Practice Facility Friday June 24 10:45 A.M. PDT ARCO Arena - Shootaround Saturday June 25 Travel to Washington Sunday June 26 TBA MCI Center - Shootaround Monday June 27 Travel to Connecticut

All practice times and locations are subject to change. If you plan to attend practice, we recommend you confirm with the Monarchs Media Relations Department by calling (916) 928-8112.



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