Sacramento Monarchs Weekly Update

Published on June 29, 2004 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


QUOTABLES

New York Liberty head coach Richie Adubato, June 17, 2003 at New York: "This Sacramento team is an underrated team especially out here, because people don't realize that they took Los Angeles to the wire. Yolanda Griffith and Tangela Smith are a great combination."

Sacramento Monarchs guard Kara Lawson, July 24, 2003 vs. New York: "As far as playing in crunch time when it counts, that is where I like to be. I feel like I am a pressure player and a player who likes to make plays when our team needs it. I enjoy that time in the game and I thrive under that kind of pressure."

WHAT ABOUT GRIFFITH?

Yolanda Griffith has led the Monarchs in scoring against the Liberty during five of 14 meetings with New York. When Griffith leads her team in points the Monarchs are 3-2 overall against the Liberty, 1-0 in Sacramento and 2-2 on the road.

MONARCHS/LIBERTY CONNECTIONS

* Monarchs forward Yolanda Griffith and guard Ticha Penicheiro were teammates with Liberty forward Elena Baranova during the 2003-04 offseason as they all played for UMMC in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

* Monarchs Ruthie Bolton, Yolanda Griffith and Ticha Penicheiro went head-to-head with New York's Vicki Johnson and Tari Phillips in the 2001 WNBA All-Star Game. All five players were designated as starters for their conference.

GRIFFITH LEADS MONARCHS AGAINST THE STORM Yolanda Griffith has been the Monarchs high-scorer in 7 of 14 meetings with Seattle. When Griffith is the leader in points Sacramento holds a 6-1 record, 3-1 at home and 3-0 on the road.

WHAT ABOUT JACKSON? Lauren Jackson has been the Storm's high-scorer in six of 11 meetings with Sacramento. When Jackson is the leader in points Seattle holds a 2-4 record, 2-1 at home and 0-3 on the road.

MONARCHS/STORM CONNECTIONS

* Monarchs forward Yolanda Griffith and guard Ticha Penicheiro were teammates with Storm center Lauren Jackson during the 2003-04 offseason as they all played for UMMC in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

* 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 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

June 27, 2004 vs Phoenix - W, 63-57 (ARCO Arena) The Sacramento Monarchs played exceptional basketball Sunday night at ARCO Arena against the visiting Phoenix Mercury. Rebounding down the stretch was key in the Monarchs 63-57 victory over the Mercury as Sacramento outrebounded Phoenix 41-32.

The Monarchs started out strong and held the lead for the entire night. Just three minutes into the game, Sacramento had racked up nine points while holding the Mercury scoreless. At the break the Monarchs led 28-21. Diana Taurasi led all scorers in the first half with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor.

Sacramento's largest lead was 36-23 (13 points) with 17:58 left in regulation. The Mercury were able to close within three points (57-54) with 1:44 left in the game. Strong free throw shooting from Yolanda Griffith (8-of-10 from the line) helped clinch the Monarchs victory.

The Monarchs had three players score in double figures to include, Kara Lawson (13 points), DeMya Walker (12 points) and Tangela Smith (10 points). Both Walker and Ticha Penicheiro were impressive on the boards pulling down seven rebounds each. Penicheiro also totaled five points, six assists and four steals. Leading the Mercury in the loss was Taurasi with a game-high 16 points.

Penicheiro WNBA's All-Time Assist Leader

On June 17th at Minnesota, Ticha Penicheiro became the WNBA's all-time assist leader. She currently has 1,334 assists (as of 6/27/04), while Los Angeles Sparks guard Teresa Weatherspoon trails with 1,322 (as of 6/27/04).

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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from June 29, 2004


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