SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 3 (Ticker) -- Yolanda Griffith soundly outplayed Lisa Leslie, but the Sacramento Monarchs still couldn't beat the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday.

NBA TV highlights from Sparks-Monarchs: 56k | 300k

Leslie hit just 1-of-9 shots, but Mwadi Mabika and rookie Nikki Teasley combined for 38 points to lead the Sparks to an 81-71 victory.

The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Monarchs, who are 8-3 since Griffith returned from the injured list.

Griffith dominated Leslie in their center battle, setting season highs with 28 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 15 rebounds. Leslie, the reigning WNBA Most Valuable Player, finished with four points and fouled out with less than six minutes left.

Latasha Byears posted eight points and eight rebounds against her former team. Rocky Widner/WNBAE/Getty Images

But Mabika and Teasley more than picked up the slack. Mabika had 20 points and a career-high nine assists and Teasley took over down the stretch.

After a 9-2 run pulled Sacramento within 61-59 with 4:21 left, Teasley scored eight of Los Angeles' next 10 points, including a pair of clutch 3-pointers.

Teasley started a 10-2 spurt with a 3-pointer from the right side with 3:49 left. After Mabika hit a pair of free throws, Teasley converted another 3-pointer with 2:43 remaining to open a 10-point cushion and capped the run with a layup with 1:57 left for a 71-61 bulge.

Sacramento All-Star Ticha Penicheiro tied her own WNBA record with 16 assists, but hit just 1-of-9 shots from the field and finished with three points.

Los Angeles has won all three meetings from Sacramento this season by an average margin of more than 12 points.