San Antonio 77, Sacramento 69

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 13, 2008 (AP) -- Ann Wauters scored 18 points to lead the San Antonio Silver Stars to a 77-69 win over the Sacramento Monarchs on Saturday night.

Edwige Lawson-Wade, who started in place of Becky Hammon, chipped in with a career high 14. Hammon did not dress for the game, while another starter, Vicki Johnson, was not in attendance dealing with family matters.

The two teams will meet again in the first round of the playoffs this week. San Antonio won the season series over the Monarchs (2-1). The Monarchs will close out their regular season on Monday against Houston at Texas State's Strahan Coliseum in a makeup for Friday's postponed game. The game was moved because of Hurricane Ike.

Kara Lawson scored 23 points to lead Sacramento.

San Antonio finished the regular season with its fifth straight victory. The Silver Stars jumped out to a 46-33 halftime lead as they shot 60 percent (18-for-30) in the first half.

The Monarchs rallied in the third quarter behind an 11-0 run that was capped by Adrian Williams-Strong layup with 5:20. It cut the lead to 54-50, but San Antonio answered back with its own 11-3 run that ended with a Sandora Irvin layup, making it 65-53 at the end of the third quarter.

The Monarchs would get no closer the rest of the game.