SEATTLE (AP) -- With Ticha Penicheiro back in the starting lineup
and a new head coach, things are looking up for the Sacramento
Monarchs.
Penicheiro, an All-Star last season, was activated June 15
and the Monarchs have won of three of four games since her return,
including a 65-59 victory over the Seattle Storm on Saturday night.
Penicheiro made five throws in the final 41 seconds to seal the
victory.
"She's means so much to us when she is on the floor," coach
Maura McHugh said. "She gets us into our offense and makes big
plays."
The Monarchs improved to 2-0 under McHugh. She replaced Sonny
Allen who retired after 2½ years as Sacramento head coach on June
25. The Monarchs made the playoffs the last two seasons under
Allen.
With the Monarchs leading 60-56 with 41.2 seconds left,
Seattle's Michelle Marciniak was called for a flagrant foul on
Penicheiro. Penicheiro missed the free throw, but Tangela Smith
rebounded the miss and Penicheiro was fouled again and made both
for a 62-56 lead.
Storm coach Lin Dunn was fuming about the flagrant foul call.
"That just turned the game around down the stretch. That was
certainly not a flagrant foul call."
Penicheiro said the call was right because Marciniak yanked her
left arm down when she was trying to shoot the ball with her right
hand.
Yolanda Griffith scored 15 points and Kendra Holland-Corn added
13 as the Monarchs (8-6) started their four-game road trip with a
victory.
The Monarchs dominated the Storm (7-7) on the boards, 33-16,
with Tangela Smith pulling down nine rebounds.
"Defense and rebounding are what won the game for us,"
Griffith said. "Having Ticha back makes a better team. When we
don't turn the ball over we are tough."
Lauren Jackson led Seattle with 18 points. Kamila Vodichkova
scored 14 off the bench for the Storm, and Marciniak added 12
points, including a pair of 3-pointers in the late going.
The Monarchs led 33-17 on Kara Wolters' short bank shot with
4:47 left in the opening half before the Storm went on an 11-3 run
trimming the deficit to 36-28 at halftime.
Holland-Corn led the Monarchs with 12 in the opening half as she
was 3-for-4 from 3-point range.
Marciniak said the Storm needs to avoid sluggish starts.
"It would make a big difference if we could get in people's
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ALSO SEE
WNBA Scoreboard
Sacramento team page
Seattle team page
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