Monarchs Weekly Update

Published on May 11, 2004 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


* If last year's May 14 match-up is any indication of future performance, then the May 14, 2004, preseason game shouldn't't be a problem for Sacramento as the Monarchs won last year, 64-48.

Quotable Seattle Storm head coach Anne Donovan, June 21, 2003 vs. Seattle: "...Yolanda Griffith is always a machine on the backboard."

Monarchs/Storm Connections * Storm guard Tully Bevilaqua was teammates with Sacramento forward DeMya Walker in Portland. Both played for the Fire for three seasons, from 2000-02.

* Storm center Simone Edwards graduated from Iowa in 1996, while Monarchs forward Tangela Smith graduated in 1998. The two were on the same team for two seasons, 1994-95 and 1995-96.

* Storm head coach Anne Donovan graduated from Old Dominion University in 1983, two current Monarchs players also played for ODU, Ticha Penicheiro ('98) and Tanty Maïga ('01).

* Monarchs guard Kara Lawson of Tennessee went head-to-head with the Storm's Sue Bird of the University of Connecticut in the semifinals of the 2002 NCAA Tournament. UConn defeated Tennessee 79-56.

* Monarchs guard Edna Campbell played for the Seattle Storm for the 2000 season before being traded to Sacramento in exchange for Katy Steding in April 2001.

* Seattle assistant coach, Jenny Boucek graduated from Virginia in 1997, while Monarchs forward DeMya Walker graduated in 1999. They played on the same team during the 1995-96 season.

* Storm guard/forward Sheri Sam was a 1996 graduate of Vanderbilt, while Monarchs center Chantelle Anderson graduated in 2003.

Monarchs Most Recent Game Recap May 10, 2004 at Phoenix - L, 82-73 (America West Arena) Sacramento lost their second preseason game, 82-73, to the Phoenix Mercury at America West Arena. Despite Monarchs forward Yolanda Griffith's game-leading 20 points and six rebounds the Monarchs were no match for the Mercury who had five players score in double figures.

The first half was evenly matched as the lead was traded seven times. Sacramento led by eight (37-29) with less than four minutes left in the half, but Phoenix went on a 11-3 run to even the score, 40-40. With 3.2 seconds left on the clock Sacramento guard Kara Lawson netted a 10-foot jump shot for the 42-40 Monarchs lead at intermission.

The two teams battled it out in the first four minutes of the second half and were tied 52-52 with 14:43 remaining. Phoenix then made a 19-8 run for a 71-60 advantage and never looked back. The Monarchs were only able to close within eight points on three occasions before the 82-73 final.

The Mercury led in both field goal (49.2%) and free throw percentage (70.8%), while Sacramento, who finished with a 46.3 field goal percentage and 58.3 free throw percentage, was the leader on the boards out rebounding Phoenix 44 to 37.

Other than Griffith, forward DeMya Walker was the only Monarchs player to score in double digits, tallying 12 points while grabbing five boards. Rookie forward Rebekkah Brunson was also impressive, contributing seven points and four rebounds. Guard Ticha Penicheiro was the assist and steals leader for the night, dishing out six dimes and stealing the ball four times.

Leading the Mercury was guard Diana Taurasi with 14 points. Forwards Penny Taylor and Nikki McCray were next with 13 points each, followed by guards Anna DeForge and Tamara Moore with 10 points each.

Race for the Cure On Saturday, May 8, the entire Sacramento Monarchs team participated in Race for the Cure. After the race, thousands of race participants stopped by the Monarchs booth to make bookmarks, take a shot on the sport court, watch the Hip Hop Crew and had their face painted. The event was a huge success.

At the start of the race Monarchs guard Edna Campbell was honored with the Joyce Raley Teel Award for her outstanding dedication to breast health in the Greater Sacramento Area.

Monarchs Media Day at ARCO Arena The Sacramento Monarchs will host media day on Monday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Media will have the opportunity to meet the 2004 Monarchs team and coaching staff, receive up-to-date statistics and bios on all players and interview players for quotes and sound bytes.

Players will be divided up into groups, giving media ample opportunity to interview the players they choose. The groups are broken down as follows:

Group A - Chantelle Anderson, Edna Campbell, Chelsea Grear, and DeMya Walker

Group B - Rebekkah Brunson, Kara Lawson, Giuliana Mendiola, Ticha Penicheiro

Group C - Ruthie Bolton, Yolanda Griffith, Christelle Jouandon

Group D - Lady Grooms, Hamchétou Maïga, Núria Martínez, Tangela Smith

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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 11, 2004


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