Sacramento Monarchs Weekly Update

June 12, 2007 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


Player of the Week

On June 11, Rebekkah Brunson was honored by the WNBA with the Player of the Week Award for games played on June 4-10. Brunson stepped in for an injured DeMya Walker and led the Monarchs to a 2-1 record on the week by averaging a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds, while shooting 58.3 percent (21-for-36) from the field. She also tallied a career-high 21 points on June 5 vs. San Antonio and a career-high 17 rebounds on June 9 vs. Phoenix. Brunson is the first Monarchs player to receive this honor since 2002.

DeMya Walker Surgery Update

On June 8, DeMya Walker underwent successful surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in her right knee. Monarchs Team Doctor Kirk Lewis performed the surgery. A complete recovery is expected.

DeMya Walker Sidelined for Season

On June 2, versus the Los Angeles Sparks, Walker injured her right knee with 4:12 remaining in the first quarter at ARCO Arena. She underwent a MRI which confirmed a patellar tendon tear to her right knee. She is expected to be out for the remainder of the 2007 season. Walker will undergo further evaluation and be scheduled for surgery at a later date.

Home Sweet Home

After a loss to the Phoenix Mercury on June 9, the Monarchs franchise record 12 consecutive home games won came to an end. The streak began with an 82-61 victory against Indiana on June 25, 2006.

Monarchs in June

The Monarchs are currently 3-1 (.750) for the month of June. The Monarchs all-time record in June is 52-56 (.481). Traditionally the Monarchs fair better in the months of July (67-55, .549) and August (43-29, .597).

Monarchs Recent Transactions

6-4-07: Signed forward Linda Fröhlich and waived center Brittany Wilkins

5-14-07: Waived centers Antionette Wells and Erin Batth

Monarchs Upcoming Schedule

Saturday, June 16, 2007, Monarchs vs. Houston Comets at ARCO Arena, 7:00 P.M. PDT. Dads and Daughters Night.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007, Monarchs at Chicago Sky at UIC Pavilion, 5:00 P.M. PDT.

Friday, June 22, 2007, Monarchs at Los Angeles Sparks at STAPLES Center, 7:30 P.M. PDT. Game will be broadcast on Comcast SportsNet.

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

NEXT OPPONENT

Monarchs vs. Houston Comets

- The Monarchs face the Houston Comets for the 38th occasion during the WNBA regular season. The Monarchs currently trail the all-time series 13-24 (Home 9-9, Road 4-15).

- The Monarchs face the Comets for the 2nd time this season. On June 11, led by a career-high tying 24 points from Kara Lawson, the Monarchs beat the Comets in Houston 82-67.

2007 vs. COMETS

June 11 Monday Sacramento won, 82-67 at Houston

June 16 Saturday Sacramento vs. Houston, 7:00 p.m. PDT

August 10 Saturday Sacramento at Houston, 5:30 p.m. PDT on News10

SERIES NOTES

Largest Sacramento victory: 68-48, 9-18-04 @ Sacramento (20)

Largest Houston victory: 75-44, 7-18-98 @ Sacramento (31)

Most Points, Sacramento: 78-76, 7-10-01 @ Sacramento

Fewest Points, Sacramento: 44-75, 7-18-98 @ Sacramento

Most Points, Houston: 89-61, 7-12-97 @ Houston

Fewest Points, Houston: 45-55, 8-7-05 @ Sacramento

Longest winning streak, Sacramento:4 games, 6-25-04 through 6-13-05

Longest winning streak, Houston: 7 games, 7-11-99 through 6-23-01

Monarchs last home win: 8-1-06, 74-62

Monarchs last road win: 9-16-04, 71-62

Current streak: Monarchs won 1, last loss 7-2-06 (77-62)

QUOTABLE

Sacramento Monarchs Head Coach Jenny Boucek, June 11, 2007 at Houston

"I don't know if it's the difference, but take away the fouls, I thought our defense was better and that's where everything stems from for this team. I also was proud that we attacked the zone very well. Our defense, that's where we get our momentum from. That's our foundation, so everything works better when we're defending, but then part of it was our execution which I'm proud of. Our execution was better. This team knows what to do. We have to constantly remind ourselves of who we are and what to do."

Sacramento Monarchs guard Kara Lawson, June 11, 2007 at Houston:

"I hadn't really been shooting the ball well all season long, but I've been working, trying to get some shots up, and that's how shooting is sometimes. Sometimes it takes a while. I'm thankful my shot is back. It's been way to long for me to be without it."

Houston Comets Head Coach Karleen Thompson, June 11, 2007 at Houston:

"Of course there is no easy way to put it. We just have to keep working at it, and we have to keep our heads up and fine tune this defense and not let up. We can't keep allowing teams to shoot over 50% and having breakdowns like this on defense and turning the ball over like that. So many unforced turnovers, I think we had about 12 of them on the first half and most of them were unforced. We just have to learn to take care of the ball better, but we are going to work on some things and do whatever we have to do to turn this ship around."

Houston Comets forward Tina Thompson, June 11, 2007 at Houston:

"It's the same thing we say time and time again, we come out and we have a good time and then we have these mental blocks, these lapses in defense, and we just change the whole direction of the game. I have the same opinion for tonight. We work very hard. Of course controlling that energy and the tempo of the game is something that we need to work on."



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from June 12, 2007


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