Sparks are beaten by Monarchs

SACRAMENTO — Ticha Penicheiro scored 19 points and had six assists, helping the Sacramento Monarchs defeat the Sparks, 67-59, on Tuesday night.

Not known for her scoring, Penicheiro scored 11 points and made several clutch baskets in the fourth quarter as the Monarchs clung to a slim lead and stopped a losing streak at three games.

Nicole Powell scored 12 points and Yolanda Griffith added 11 for the Monarchs, who had dropped two straight to the struggling Sparks. Sacramento (13-9) is in second place in the tight Western Conference standings.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin had 11 points and eight rebounds, and Marta Fernandez added 10 points for the Sparks (8-14), who have lost eight of nine since beating Sacramento on June 27.

After trailing for most of the game, McWilliams-Franklin made two free throws to pull the Sparks even. But Penicheiro went end to end for a layup and was fouled on the play. She made the ensuing free throw and gave Sacramento a 57-54 lead with 4:19 remaining.

Fernandez scored a career-high 26 points against the Monarchs in the previous game and was a focus of the Sacramento defense in the rematch. She was scoreless until making a three-pointer late in the third quarter.