Monarchs Blog and Q&A

Bee staff writer Melody Gutierrez grew up in Twentynine Palms. At 14-years-old, she decided to combine her two passions -- sports and writing -- when she became a special assignments reporter for the Desert Trail, her hometown weekly newspaper. Melody headed to Northern California in 2000 to attend Chico State and has remained in the region ever since. She earned an internship with The Bee and subsequently became a staff writer in 2004 and has covered virtually every sport, starting with high schools, up through college and then the pros. Melody took over coverage of the Monarchs last season and chronicled the team's pursuit of a second straight league championship -- a quest that fell just short.

Melody welcomes your questions and will answer as many as she can as the season progresses.

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August 10, 2007

Banged-up Monarchs don't have much time to rest

If you listened to last night's game on KHTK, you're probably wondering just how banged up the Monarchs will be for today's game in Houston. With the Monarchs skipping shoot around this morning, I don't have many answers, but here's what team officials are saying.

Ticha Penicheiro has a left hamstring strain, which she injured during last night's 72-61 loss to San Antonio. Penicheiro exited the game early in the third quarter and did not return. The veteran point guard will be a game-time decision today.

Chelsea Newton struggled with a left wrist contusion she suffered in Connecticut on Tuesday and is considered day-to-day. Newton played 20 minutes last night, scoring six points.

Nicole Powell rolled her ankle at the end of the game and limped off the court, but Monarchs officials say she has been walking on it and should be OK to play today. Seeing as the injury occurred at the very end of the game, Powell's 0-for-8 performance from the field can't be blamed on her ankle.

The Monarchs boarded a bus after Thursday's loss and traveled from San Antonio to Houston. Monarchs players are currently catching up on sleep before tonight's 5:30 p.m. game, which can bee seen on News 10.

Melody Gutierrez

Posted by tnegrete, August 10, 2007 11:43 AM

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