SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 3 (Ticker) -- Yolanda Griffith and the Sacramento Monarchs made the Los Angeles Sparks pay for some sloppy play.

NBA TV highlights from Sparks-Monarchs: 56k | 300k Ticha Penicheiro and the Monarchs drove past the Sparks on Thursday. Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images

Griffith scored 20 points as the Monarchs posted a 68-51 victory over the Sparks, who committed 28 turnovers.

In the first meeting between the clubs since last year's Western Conference Finals, Sacramento cruised with a dominant second half that featured 15 miscues by Los Angeles.

Tangela Smith scored eight of her 13 points in a 20-4 surge that opened up a 57-43 advantage with just over six minutes left.

Griffith badly outplayed Sparks center Lisa Leslie, her nemesis from last years's three-game loss in the West finals. Leslie had more turnovers (eight) than points (four) before fouling out with 2:42 left.

Mwadi Mabika scored 11 points and was the only player to reach double figures for Los Angeles. The Sparks shot 25 percent (7-of-28) in the second half.