Monarchs In Seventh Heaven After Topping Fever

By Kecia Bailey: SPM CA Writer
Posted Sunday, July 27, 2008

Rebekkah Brunson (32) is defended by Indiana's Ebony Hoffman under the basket. Photo by George Young.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In their final home game before the Olympic break, the Sacramento Monarchs gave their fans something to savor during the month that will pass until they see the team again – a franchise record-tying seventh consecutive victory and third place in the Western Conference. The Monarchs concluded their pre-break home schedule by beating the Indiana Fever 70-62 in front of an announced crowd of 7,082 at ARCO Arena Saturday night.

The fans don't seem to be the only ones savoring the winning ways and the ascent in the standings. Seeing the fruits of their hard work paying off, rookie center Laura Harper said, "That's our team gelling. That's our defense really hitting home at the end of games. It's showing how our team is starting to come together and it's been really fun ... We are not a team to just forget about, we're playing really well right now."

Playing short-handed due to injuries to Scholanda Robinson and Chelsea Newton, the Monarchs took advantage of their post play to exert early control of the game. In the first quarter the Fever got a steady diet of Rebekkah Brunson – who scored 10 points on 4-6 shooting and had corralled six rebounds inside the game’s first seven minutes to help the Monarchs race out to an early 16-6 lead.

In the second Brunson seemingly handed the baton to Harper, who took over where Brunson left off, adding eight points, three rebounds and two steals of her own to help Sacramento extend its lead to 40-26 heading into the half.

“Their post players Harper and Brunson hurt us," Fever head coach Lin Dunn said. “We couldn’t catch Brunson’s quickness.”

A different Indiana team emerged after the break, blitzing the Monarchs' defense by scoring 18 points in the first five minutes of the third quarter. Having been held scoreless in the first half, Fever forward Tamika Catchings led the charge, scoring eight points in the quarter. Her tip-in trimmed the Monarchs lead to 48-44 but that was as close as Indiana would get on the night. Kara Lawson quickly hit a 3-pointer to ignite a Monarchs 9-3 run to rebuild the lead to 10 with 1:32 to go in the quarter. Sacramento never needed to look back the rest of the game.

Katie Douglas scored a game-high 23 points for the Fever and was their only player in double-figures.

Recently awarded with the inaugural "Monarchs Player of the Week" award by her teammates, Laura Harper added to a great week of play by finishing the night tying her career-high with 11 points.

“She’s been very consistent lately … she’s been our leading rebounder two of the last five games,” head coach Jenny Boucek said of Harper. “She had a big stretch in the last game at crunch time and was a huge spark tonight.”

Brunson collected her fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for the Monarchs were Nicole Powell with 11 points and Olympian Kara Lawson with 12.

With one more game to go on the schedule before the league goes dark for a month while the Beijing Olympic Games take place, the streaking Monarchs will try to ride the momentum as far as it will take them and use the break to tune up for the stretch run.

“We’ve been banged up, so [the break] will be a chance to get healthy," Lawson said. "We’ve really talked about making these last few games before the break our sprint to the playoffs, and put ourselves in great position. Once the post-break happens, you just really start trying to fine tune everything and focus on you as a team – on what you need to improve and what you need to get better. To be honest, this thing is wide open. I think there are a number of teams that can get in the playoffs and win this thing … so why not us?” If we keep improving and stay focused, we can be there in the end.”

Both teams make a quick turnaround and return to action on Sunday, July 27th. The Monarchs (15-11) will travel in search of a franchise record-setting eighth straight win to take on the Storm in Seattle. The Fever (11-14) will attempt to snap their three-game losing streak as they head to Phoenix to play the Mercury.

Notes:
Guard Scholanda Robinson was moved onto the Monarchs inactive list for Saturday’s game due to neck strain. Guard Chelsea Newton continued to be bothered by the left ankle sprain she suffered in Thursday’s 83-74 win over Phoenix and did not play against Indiana. Both are considered day-to-day.

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