Monarchs clinch final spot in playoffs

By Associated Press

Story

Summary

Nicole Powell scored 20 points to help the Sacramento Monarchs clinch the final playoff berth in the Western Conference with a 77-74 victory over the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night.

Story Published: Sep 9, 2008 at 8:49 PM PST

Seattle Storm center Yolanda Griffith, top, and Sacramento Monarchs forward DeMya Walker battle for the ball during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Nicole Powell scored 20 points to help the Sacramento Monarchs clinch the final playoff berth in the Western Conference with a 77-74 victory over the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night.

Kara Lawson added 19 points and had two big free throws in the closing seconds to help the Monarchs (18-14) reach the postseason for the sixth straight year. Sacramento trails Los Angeles by a game for the third seed in the Conference.

Katie Gearlds scored 17 points, including hitting her first five 3-pointers, for Seattle. Tanisha Wright also had 17 points, Yolanda Griffith scored 16 and Camille Little added 12. Sue Bird, who averaged 21.8 points in the previous five games, was limited to six points and six assists.

Trailing 74-70, Sacramento hit seven straight free throws to rally for the win. Powell's two gave the Monarchs a 75-75 lead with 21.5 seconds left.

After two Seattle misses, Lawson grabbed the rebound and made two free throws with 10.6 seconds remaining to make the score 77-74.

Gearlds finally missed a long 3-pointer in the final seconds and Bird had a shot blocked as the Monarchs secured the win.

The Storm (21-11) fell out of a first-place tie with San Antonio, which defeated New York to take over the top spot in the West. Both Seattle and the Silver Stars have two games remaining in the regular season.

The depleted Storm played without three injured starters, Lauren Jackson (ankle), Swin Cash (back) and Sheryl Swoopes (mild concussion).

Led by the outside shooting of Gearlds and Wright, plus the inside play of Griffith, the Storm battled back from a 10-point halftime deficit to pull within 60-59 heading into the fourth quarter.

Sacramento scored 11 straight points late in the second quarter to build a 44-34 halftime lead. Despite foul problems, Lawson scored 11 points for the Monarchs. Wright had 11 points for Seattle.