Sacramento Monarchs Weekly Update

July 15, 2008 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


Monarchs Recent Transactions

2-06-08: Atlanta Dream selected guard Kristin Haynie in the 2008 WNBA Expansion Draft.

3-03-08: Re-signed forwards Rebekkah Brunson and Nicole Powell to four-year contracts.

Re-signed forward Linda Frölich

3-04-08: Re-signed guard Ticha Penicheiro.

3-31-08: Re-signed forward DeMya Walker.

4-09-08: Selected forward/center Laura Harper in the first round (10th overall) of the 2008 WNBA Draft.

Selected guard A'Quonesia Franklin (38th overall), center Izabela Piekarska (40th overall) and guard Charel Allen (43rd overall) in the third round of the 2008 WNBA Draft.

4-17-08: Signed forwards Dionne Marsh and Janie Mitchell as a free agents.

4-18-08: Signed guard Amy Sanders as a free agent.

4-29-08: Waived guard Amy Sanders.

5-01-08: Waived forward Janie Mitchell.

5-12-08: Waived forward Dionne Marsh; signed center Valeriya Berezhynska as a free agent.

5-15-08: Waived forward DeMya Walker.

5-16-08: Waived center Valeriya Berezhynska and forward Linda Frölich.

5-18-08: Waived center Izabela Piekarska; signed forward Crystal Kelly.

6-28-08: Waived guard/forward La'Tangela Atkinson.

INJURY REPORT:

Rebekkah Brunson - right lateral meniscus tear and right fibula stress fracture (day-to-day)

MONARCHS NEWS & NOTES

Lawson Joins 2008 U.S. Olympic Team

On Tuesday, July 10, the Sacramento Monarchs and USA Basketball announced that guard Kara Lawson has been named to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, which will represent the United States in the Beijing Olympics in August. She is only the third Monarchs player in franchise history to play with the Olympic Team, following two-time Olympic gold medalists Ruthie Bolton and Yolanda Griffith.

MONARCHS LAST GAME

Sacramento Monarchs 105, Phoenix Mercury 97

Saturday, July 12, 2008, 7:00 P.M. PDT at ARCO Arena

The Monarchs beat the Mercury for the first time after six consecutive losses to Phoenix.

Sacramento scored a season-high 105 points; the last time the Monarchs scored 100-plus points was in a 105-78 win over Phoenix on May 20, 2006.

The Monarchs shot a season-high .907 (39-of-43) from the charity stripe and connected on the first 25 consecutive free throw attempts.

For the first time this season, six players scored in double figures: Chelsea Newton finished with 18 points, Nicole Powell and Kara Lawson scored 15 points apiece, Ticha Penicheiro scored 14 points, Rebekkah Brunson tallied 13 and Crystal Kelly had 10 points on 10-of-10 from the free throw line.

Newton's 18 points set a new career-high as she converted 4-of-7 shots from the field and 10-of-10 from the free throw line.

Brunson recorded her third double-double of the season as she pulled down 11 rebounds to go along with her 13 points.

The Mercury shot .508 (32-of-63) from the field and .903 (28-of-31) from the free throw line.

Phoenix scored 24 points off of Sacramento's 17 turnovers.

The Mercury came within five points of the Monarchs in the fourth quarter on Cappie Pondexter's old-fashioned three-point play with 2:58 left.

Phoenix had four players score in double figures: Pondexter (33 points), Diana Taurasi (20), Kelly Miller (13) and Tangela Smith (10).

Pondexter had a season-high 33 points on 11-of-18 shooting and became the highest scoring individual opponent against the Monarchs this season. She added a season-high-tying eight assists.

Miller tied a season-high seven rebounds in addition to her 13 points and four assists.

MONARCHS CALENDAR

Friday, July 18 - Sacramento Monarchs vs. Atlanta Dream, 7:00 PM PDT

The Monarchs host the Atlanta Dream on July 18 in the first match-up in history, and follow that game with a game in Atlanta on July 22; the game on the Dream's home court is set to tip off at 8:00 a.m. PDT. Former Monarch Kristin Haynie was selected by the Dream in 2008 WNBA Expansion Draft on Feb. 6, 2008.

Sunday, July 20 - Sacramento Monarchs at Detroit Shock, 3:00 PM PDT (on News10)

Sacramento travels to Detroit to face the Shock in the second of two match-ups this season. The teams first met this season on June 6, when the Shock handed the Monarchs an 84-70 loss at ARCO Arena, moving the all-time series record to 10-9 - still in favor of Sacramento - including a 7-3 advantage at home and a 3-6 mark in Detroit.

2008 Special Events at Monarchs Games

During the 2008 season, the Monarchs will be hosting special events for fans to participate in during designated home games throughout the season. The special events at Monarchs games are as follows:

- Friday, July 18 vs. Atlanta Dream: Breast Health Awareness Night

- Thursday, July 24 vs. Phoenix Mercury: Camp Day

- Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Houston Comets: Women of Inspiration Night (previously scheduled for Saturday, July 12)

- Tuesday, September 9 vs. Seattle Storm: The MONTYS - Monarchs Thank You Sacramento

2008 SACRAMENTO MONARCHS ROSTER

No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Birthdate College WNBA Exp.

12 Charel Allen G 5-11 135 07/23/86 Notre Dame '08 R

32 Rebekkah Brunson F 6-3 175 12/11/81 Georgetown '04 4

10 A'Quonesia Franklin G 5-4 154 09/29/85 Texas A&M '08 R

15 Laura Harper F/C 6-5 190 04/11/86 Maryland '08 R

42 Crystal Kelly F 6-2 190 09/15/86 Western Kentucky '08 R

20 Kara Lawson G 5-9 165 02/14/81 Tennessee '03 5

2 Chelsea Newton G 5-11 154 02/17/83 Rutgers '05 3

21 Ticha Penicheiro G 5-11 145 09/18/74 Old Dominion '98 10

14 Nicole Powell F 6-2 175 06/22/82 Stanford '04 4

5 Scholanda Robinson G 5-11 155 01/09/83 Louisiana State '06 2

8 Kim Smith F 6-1 158 05/07/84 Utah '06 2

34 Adrian Williams-Strong F/C 6-5 180 02/15/77 USC '99 7

A'Quonesia (AQUA-knee-sha) Franklin

Charel (sha-RELL) Allen

Ticha (TEE-sha) Penicheiro (Pen-a-CHAIR-o)



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 15, 2008


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