Sacramento Monarchs Weekly Update

Published on July 20, 2004 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


QUOTABLES

Phoenix Mercury Guard Diana Taurasi, June 27, 2004 at Sacramento: "When you play a team like Sacramento that's so big, you really can't pressure that much. ...When you have three big time post players like Smith, Walker and Griffith that's their strength."

Phoenix Mercury Head Coach Carrie Graf, May 20, 2004 at Phoenix: "We got smashed on the glass and couldn't compete there. When you don't rebound against a team like that (the Monarchs), you get in trouble."

HOW ABOUT GRIFFITH

In Griffith's five seasons with Sacramento she has been the high-scorer in 12 of the Monarchs 19 games with Phoenix. When Griffith is the high-scorer in games versus the Mercury the Monarchs are 11-1 overall, 6-0 at home and 5-1 in Phoenix.

MONARCHS/MERCURY CONNECTIONS

* Monarchs guard Kara Lawson (Tennessee '03) and Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi (Uconn '04) faced off two years in a row at the NCAA Tournament. In 2002 during the National Semifinal Uconn defeated Tennessee, 79-56 and in 2003 in the National Championship Uconn won, 73-68.

* Mercury center Ashley Robinson ('04), guard Nikki McCray ('95), and assistant coach Lisa Harrison ('93) all graduated from Tennessee, while Monarchs guard Kara Lawson graduated from Tennessee in 2003. Both Lawson and Robinson played on the same team for three years (2000-2003).

* Monarchs assistant coach Monique Ambers was drafted by Phoenix Mercury in the fourth round of the 1997 WNBA Draft. In 1997, Ambers averaged .444 field goal percentage, .400 free throw percentage and 1.2 rebounds per game in 19 games played.

* Mercury forward Edwina Brown graduated from Texas in 2000, while nine years earlier (1991) Monarchs guard Edna Campbell graduated from Texas.

* Monarchs guard Edna Campbell was selected by Phoenix Mercury in the first round (10th overall) of the 1999 WNBA Draft. Campbell averaged .364 field goal percentage, .714 free throw percentage and 9.6 points per game in 28 games played. Campbell was then drafted by Seattle in the 1999 WNBA expansion draft.

QUOTABLES

Indiana Fever Head Coach Brian Winters, June 16, 2004 at Indiana: "Sacramento rebounded offensively much better because of their 6'5, 6'4, 6'3 front line. They must create space to rebound. They beat us on the boards in the first half..."

WHAT ABOUT CATCHINGS?

Tamika Catchings has been the high-scorer in three of the Fevers six games with Sacramento. When Catchings is Indiana's leader in points versus the Monarchs the Fever are 2-1 overall, 2-0 in Indiana and 0-1 in Sacramento.

HOW ABOUT SMITH?

Tangela Smith has been the high-scorer in three of the Monarchs six games with Indiana. When Smith is the high-scorer in games versus the Fever the Monarchs are 1-2 overall, 0-1 at home and 1-1 in Indiana.

MONARCHS/FEVER CONNECTIONS

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

* Fever forward Tamika Catchings ('01) graduated from Tennessee, while Monarchs guard Kara Lawson graduated from Tennessee in 2003. Both Lawson and Catchings played on the same team for two years (1999-01).

* Indiana guard Kelly Miller graduated from Georgia in 2001, while Monarchs guard Lady Grooms graduated from Georgia in 1992.

* Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro and Fever Tamika Catchings went head-to-head as starters in the 2002 WNBA All-Star Game for their respective conferences.

MOST RECENT GAME RECAP

July 18, 2004 vs Washington - W, 81-71 (ARCO Arena)

The Sacramento Monarchs improved their record to 10-11 with a dominant second half performance against the Washington Mystics. The Mystics went on an early 13-7 run five minutes into the first half en route to a 39-35 lead at intermission. Rookie Alana Beard led all scorers with 14 points in the first half, and finished the night with a career-high of 27 points.

In the second half the Monarchs fought back, outscoring the Mystics 46-32, and out-rebounding them 25-22, including 10 offensive rebounds. After nearly ten minutes of battling for the lead the Monarchs finally took over for good, 54-52, after a DeMya Walker lay-up with 10:36 left in the game. Walker had an impressive night; on top of her 12 points she pulled down seven boards, surpassing 500 career rebounds and also dished out a career-high seven assists.

The Monarchs set the tone of the game with aggressive inside play. They dominated the post, outscoring their opponent 60-32 from inside the paint, and out-rebounded them 46-40. Tangela Smith led the Monarchs with 17 points. But, it was the Monarchs bench that truly shined as rookie Rebekkah Brunson scored a career-high 12 points and grabbed six rebounds. The Monarchs bench contributed a total of 37 points.

Bolstered by 87.5% shooting from the line and remarkable performances by Chamique Holdsclaw and Alana Beard, Washington kept it close until the end, trailing by as few as five points with 3:22 left. Holdsclaw completed her ninth double-double of the season posting 25 points and 10 rebounds. However, the Mystics 39.7% from the field was not enough to overcome the impressive display by the Monarchs who hit 50% of their shots.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 20, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central