Griffith and Powell reign

Mon., Sept. 4, 2006

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Yolanda Griffith scored 15 points, Nicole Powell had 14 and the Sacramento Monarchs rolled to the brink of their second straight championship with an 89-69 victory Sunday over the Detroit Shock in Game 3 of the WNBA finals.

Erin Buescher and DeMya Walker had 11 points apiece for the Monarchs, who went ahead 2-1 in the best-of-five series with a near-flawless effort on both ends of the court.

Shaking off a fourth-quarter collapse in Game 2, Sacramento never trailed as eight Monarchs scored at least seven points. The defense forced 23 turnovers by the demoralized Shock, who couldn’t avoid their third straight blowout loss in Arco Arena.

Game 4 is Wednesday night at Arco, where the Monarchs have won 11 straight playoff games since 2001. They’ll have the opportunity to duplicate the raucous championship celebration after last season’s Game 4 against the Connecticut Sun.

Sacramento’s reserves led a decisive 14-3 run to close the third quarter, doubling the Monarchs’ lead to 22 points in 3 1/2 minutes. Buescher punctuated that surge with an awkward, shot-clock-beating 3-pointer that sent her running up the court with her arms spread wide in celebration.

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Griffith and Powell reign

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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