Against the WNBA's winningest team, the Monarchs tried to reclaim their defensive identity.
Down 22 points and scrambling for baskets, the Monarchs finally found a sense of urgency. But Sacramento's surge was not enough to derail the Silver Stars express.
Behind MVP candidate Becky Hammon's 30 points, San Antonio turned back the Monarchs 85-78 Thursday night at Arco Arena in their WNBA playoff opener. The loss immediately sinks Sacramento into a deep hole in the best-of-three series.
"We still believe," Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek said. "You just keep fighting, possession after possession. You never know what could happen."
On her 34th birthday, Ticha Penicheiro had 19 points and seven assists while leading the Monarchs' rally. Pressured by San Antonio's defense, Nicole Powell scored 16 points to go with six rebounds. Rookie forward Crystal Kelly, subbing for injured Rebekkah Brunson, added 12 points as Sacramento outscored San Antonio 48-24 in the paint.
For San Antonio, four players topped double digits. Sophia Young - another MVP candidate - scored 17 points, 13 in the second half.
This loss broke the Monarchs' eight-game home winning streak. It also was their first playoff defeat at Arco in the first round since losing to eventual champion Houston in 2000.
"Anytime you have a chance to walk away with a win in Sacramento, you've got to feel good," Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said. "They're such a tough team to play. We were playing pretty well, and then their offense made an awesome comeback."
The only WNBA team with a winning road record this season, the Silver Stars (25-10, 1-0 in the playoffs) ended the first quarter ahead 22-13. They led 45-29 at halftime while sinking almost two shots to every Sacramento basket. The Monarchs (18-17, 0-1) were held to 33.3 percent shooting in the first quarter and 38.7 for the half.
Kara Lawson, the Monarchs' most consistent scorer, was limited to five shots all game as San Antonio keyed on Sacramento's perimeter players.
The Silver Stars stretched their lead to 22 points less than two minutes into the second half. But with Penicheiro taking charge, the Monarchs engineered a turnaround.
Sacramento forced the usually sure-handed Silver Stars into repeated mistakes as it converted 23 San Antonio turnovers into 31 points. During the crucial fourth quarter, the Monarchs made 12 of 17 shots (70.6 percent).
Penicheiro's three-pointer - the Monarchs' first of the night - pulled her team within seven with 3:31 remaining. Lawson's three-pointer with 21.4 seconds left cut the deficit to 82-78. But as the announced crowd of 7,740 exploded its ThunderStix while the Silver Stars shot free throws, the Monarchs could not close the gap.
The teams return to San Antonio for Game 2 Saturday night and, if necessary, Game 3 Monday.
"We are playing the best team in the league, and they have a multitude of weapons," Boucek said. "You saw how we can play in the second half. We really just need to do that from start to finish."
Call The Bee's Debbie Arrington, (916) 326-5514.
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