Monarchs bench emerge from cocoons to beat Lynx

BY MIKE PEDEN

All five starters for the Minnesota Lynx scored double-figures Thursday night at Target Center against the Sacramento Monarchs, who were last in the Western Conference at 1-8.

A back-and-forth game appeared to sway the Lynx's way with 3:36 left in the fourth quarter after a Latoya Pringle block held a 66-61 lead for the Lynx.

"With that little time left, it's all about getting stops," said Sacramento guard Kara Lawson. "We just talked about, in the huddle, trying to execute and not let them get any more baskets."

The Monarchs gave up one, but scored 13 points in the final minutes to beat the Lynx 74-68 and snap their six-game losing streak.

Lawson scored 14 points off the bench, including three key free throws at the end of the game to seal the win. The Monarchs outscored the Lynx 38-11 in bench points. Monarchs starter Nicole Powell led all players with 21.

"To have lost so many games early, it is sort of a relief for us to get a win on the board," Lawson said.

The Lynx (7-4) had other problems that caused them to fall to a tie with Phoenix for the Western Conference lead.

The Lynx blew an early 11-2 lead and trailed in turnovers for the rest of the game. They were outrebounded 41-32, including 15-7 in offensive boards, and were outscored 22-4 in second chance points.

"These stats right here tell it all," said Lynx head coach Jennifer Gillom.

Gillom expressed concern about the matchup before the game after the Lynx successfully held off a late run by the Atlanta Dream in their last game.

"I keep telling (them), don't get caught up in the hype. I was worried about this moment. I tried my best to tell them before the game, 'Stay focused, this team is going to come at you,'" she said.

That is exactly what the Monarchs did. Lynx center Nicky Anosike was held to 12 points, despite seven assists, as she was often met with double or triple-teams whenever she touched the ball.

"We have to be able to knock down shots when teams are doing that to the post to make them pay," she said. "We didn't do that."

For the Monarchs, Lawson says her team could be in the mix for a playoff spot even though the win did nothing to get them out of last place in the Western Conference.

"We're starting to get everyone healthy. That's why we feel like in every game, we can improve," she said.

Both teams will return to action Tuesday, with the Monarchs hosting Chicago and the Lynx hosting Washington.